Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[helenmb]

Sadly, I am now down to one hen and want to give Milly some new friends as she seems lonely. Will it be easy to add 3 new hens into the run and eglu I have. The run is 3m x 3m (and human hight) so there is plenty of space. Not sure how they will get on with to start with. Has anyone got any suggestions.

Thanks - Helen

[stoice]

Hi Helen, welcome to the forum.

 

I'm sorry to hear you're down to one hen. There's lots of info on here about intros. Try looking in FAQ in the chicken section... here... viewtopic.php?f=42&t=25886

 

Even though your Milly is sad and lonely now you will find she'll certainly stand up for herself and will probably peck and fight any new hens introduced. (And there's us trying to help a lonely girl eh? ) So go slowly and hopefully they should integrate well (After about 3 weeks of what looks like constant squabbles!) Just be prepared to dive in with a blast from a hose or a gentle shove with a broom if things get a bit wild. Also if any blood is drawn then that hen will need separating until healed as chooks lurve the sight of blood and things could get really nasty. You may need separate accomadation such as a rabbit hutch for a while too.

 

 

This is worst case though so hopefully all should setle. Good luck

 

Now... what girls are you going to get next?

[Egluntyne]

Good advice from stoice there.

 

Sorry to hear that Milly is on her lonesome.

 

If you take it slowly, things will go reasonably uneventfully.

 

Good luck.

[helenmb]

Thanks Stoice and Egluntine for your advice.

 

Not sure what breeds to get yet, have found a farm quite near (20 miles or so) that have several hybrids http://www.cambridgepoultry.co.uk/poultryforsale.htm so will get 3 I think as the run has plenty of space. We will have a trip out on Saturday so Milly isn't on her own too long. I think I'll go for 3 different breeds what do you think Milly is a 'Gingernut ranger'.

 

H

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Good luck with your new girls - hope Milly appreciates it .

 

I like having three different breeds as they all look different and their eggs are really easy to tell apart .

[Karen Pimlott]

Introduce a single hen so you existing doesnt get picked on then in a few weeks introduce another 2 so numbers are equal rather than 3 to 1, should minimise problems. try & buy chickens from the same breeder that have been reared together & are of similar ages. Reserve them all whilst you are there...

 

good luck