flowerangelk8x Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hi, i am completely new to keeping chickens! i have ordered an eglu and two chickens from omlet... ! very exciting... arriving a week on thursday. But...HELP... i don't know if i've done the right thing ordering two chickens? is it better to have three? are they better company for each other? do three fit in the eglu ok? any thoughts on this greatfully recieved! many thanks, an excited new chicken keeper> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 CONGRATULATIONS!!! We have 2! The reason we got 2 not 3, is that we knew they would be in the run while we are at work, and our garden isn't big enough for an extended run, hence only room for 2 chickens. But I know that if one dies (hopefully no time soon... ) getting a friend quickly will be important, and I will have to manage introductions which - from reading on this forum - could be a challenge.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hi, welcome to the forum and congrats on ordering some chooks. 2 or 3 or even 4 in the eglu are fine. I've got 4 in my eglu, but it is the size of run that is important and my 4 need the extra converter bolted onto the standard run. Totally up to you how many you get. Don't let this put you off, but chickens can be fragile little things and it has been known on ocassion that the stress of moving is too much - it happened to me - one died 2 weeks after delivery from Omlet. So if you get 3 to start, you have less chance of a lonely chicken (they do like company you see). To add to a flock later can be done but is a right pain (I added 1 new girl after only 4 weeks and intros took a long time). BUT having said all that, if your garden is small then 2 hens make much less mess than 3 hens for example. And less noise. And eat less. Etc, etc. So if you only want 2 hens, then go for 2. If the worst happens you could introduce 2 more to a lonely one..... ALSO to consider for 3 hens - will you or won't you want a run coverter - there is a space consideration then. Whatever you decide, you will be addicted in minutes, they are fun, easy, great pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hello and welcome to the forum. Personally, I would get three. It makes it easier in the future if one dies. If you decide that you need an extra one, I believe that you just have to call Omlet back and request this. Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 We got two from Omlet and added two more bought locally. I think I would be tempted to get three just in case one dies so that you are not left with one lonely girl. By the way welcome to the forum. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larkspurs Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Congrats and welcome to the world of chicken keeping. I had two Gingernut Rangers and an eglu for Christmas last year, although I wish I had three. We have however decided that should anything happen i.e. one dies we will get another two but hopefully that is a long way off. Enjoy.... Dave (Novice but learning quick!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Congratulations and welcome to the forum. It isn't too late to ring Omlet and ask for another hen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I did that and then asked the question and ended up getting 3 and they are beautiful and a flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I can't add much more to the above only that I also had three chickens to start with Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillicat Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hello Its true, once you get your girls, you will be hooked and within days you will wish you did something different.............especially if you spend all your spare time on this forum, like me I, personally, with just one year's experience, would go for as many as possible. I too had a nasty experience and lost one hen as I couldn't keep an eye on them 24/7 as I work full time. Originally, I purchased a a cube and 5 hens from Omlet.............shoulda gone for 10 cos I luv 'em so much! However, I've spent a year with the chooks and have learned an awful lot. I am now planning to get different coloured egg layers, which is a whole new ball game for me. You can always call Omlet and add to your flock right up to the last minute. Have a real good think and just imagine how a second eglu would look alongside your first........or even a cube Congratulations on your purchase...........don't forget pics, we need to see pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egzandra Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Yes, photos of your new chickens would be lovely. I have not got any yet, so I am surviving on other peoples pictures! Think I would get three rather than 2 if I were getting an eglu. I am planning to have a cube, and so I will get 5 probably. Good luck, and welcome to the forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Just to say Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of chickens!!!! Well done,you must be sooo eggcited I'd get 3 also..... Like lots of people at first I ordered an eglu with 2, that changed to 3 with an extension, and ended up with a cube and 6 (soon to be 10) YOu will love every minute of it... I've just survived our first winter and still love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowerangelk8x Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 Thank you all for your kind advice. i'm having a think about it..... can you hear the brain grinding away! just visited a poultry center and seen some beautiful young grey speckled chickens (?), or bantams (? don't know the differance?)yet, couldn't find anyone to talk to, will have to go back. now i'm thinking may be i'll get 3 chickens, one ginger nut ranger, one miss pepperpot (both from omlet) and one of these grey chickens that i have just seen? if i got them all on the same day, considering they are all new together, would they mix or fight? sorry questions ,questions.... looking forward to hearing more of your wisdom... thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewhitehouse Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 You'll only want more if you get 2! I'm just a novice but having reflected on my own experience if you get 3 on the same day (2 from Omlet and the Speckledy) and introduce them at the same time you may be OK. It seems to me that in a brand new environment, there is no pecking order at the time of introductions although they then set one up. Less hassle than introducing a new one at a later date with an established pecking order. There'll be someone more experienced than me who will give a better opinion (sorry for the gabble - long day at work and on the 2nd glass of falling down water) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 hello & welcome from me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhoderunner Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Hello there. I've only had chickens for a couple of weeks now. I wanted 2 but got 3 as I have three children and they wanted to name one each. But I'm very glad I got three. They all cuddle together in the nesting bowl at night and are getting on very well together during the day. And we have 2 or 3 eggs every morning. And yes, if something does happen to one, the other two will still have company. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 I wanted 2 but got 3 as I have three children and they wanted to name one each. That sounds like a good excuse to overindulge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Just to say hi and welcome, ask anything you like on here, we've all had to ask it one time or another probably! Whereabouts are you (she says just being nosey !) And of course can't wait to see pictures of your new girls - what colour Eglu have you gone for? BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Hi & welcome to the wonderful world of chickens - beware the of the uninitiated, you don't get that here, whatever you ask!!! I had 3 in - 3 on the recommendation of Omleteers...and now have 11 with , but that's another story!! - with a standard run, but rapidly had to extend the run to allow for the pecking order to sort itself out & the poor little "bottom chook" space to escape the "top chook". Once they had more space they settled quite quickly. The space you have available in my opinion and experience is the biggest, most important point you should take into consideration. I have rescued 4 Orpingtons who came with only the standard run - much much much too small & resulted in 3 of the hens looking like a bare necked breed, because they've plucked each other's necks out of boredom Horrible but true & I'd hate for someone else to experience this down to something as simple as giving them more space to live in! 4 small breeds would probably be fine (don't quote me, I have no experience of this, just surmising ), but 4 large breeds no way! Waffly as always, but hope it helps! Good luck with you lovely new chooks, you'll wonder why you didn't get them before..... Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
