cluckbok Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 (edited) Sorry it's me again. How about introducing one hen to three? But initially separting the new hen in a chicken ark beside the eglu, then getting a 1m run extension on our existing eglu run. You can get 4 chickens in an eglu I believe. We have 3 hybrids at the moment. Or is it a bad idea introducing 1 to 3? I'm not sure, but OH thinks it would be fine. We would do as I said before only free range under supervision to begin with, the mix them all slowly. Thank you guys! Edited January 11, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 If you desperately want one more chicken (and I can relate to that!), I would say as long as you take it REALLY slowly and get one the same size and a similar age, then it could work. I wanted to adopt Tom123's Ginger girl and I was looking into doing a similar sort of thing. Then the Husband put his foot down See what the others have to say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 If you do it really slowly it should work. I once introduced one to eleven. It was fine. I took it a step at a time, over a month or so. Getting them accustomed to sharing treats, done in such a way that they are facing each other, is a key element. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I have recently introduced 1 to 3 (who are sisters). They were roughly the same age (ie 6 months old) and so able to stand up for themselves. There were some minor pecky squabbles but nothing major. Do take it slowly tho. It has taken about 2 months for them to become a proper foursome rather than 3 and 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 You should be ok, just keep a close eye on them. Moomin, I have replied to your post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I'm currently introducing 1 to 4 (Forensica's noisy Pipi, who seems very quiet now she's with my girls!) It seemed to be going ok, and she was even putting herself into bed at night in the Cube of her own accord, but on Friday I became concerned that she perhaps wasn't eating enough, and I could see she'd had a few feathers pulled, so she is now back in the spare Eglu run which is attached at right-angles to the Cube, and going back in the Cube at night to sleep. I think I rushed it a bit with New Year and going back to work, so I'm going to take it more slowly, and perhaps try putting her in with them again in a week or two when there's been more free-ranging time. Follow the tips in the FAQ section, about perimeter feeding and so on - it does work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catherinej Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Sorry to gate crash but do the same rules go for introducing 3 new birds to 1 existing? My gingernut was eaten by the fox so I need some friends for Penny. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Yes.... Have a look **here** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
