4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[aliwobble]

Hello

 

Unfortunately we lost Porridge, our lovely bluebelle hen, to a fox during the snow. This leaves us with 3 hens out of the four.

 

My husband would very much like to replace Porridge, but I'm worried about introducing a single hen. We started with two Omlet hens then extended the run and introduced another two. We took things very slowly and the whole thing was stress-free (for us and the hens!), but I'm worried that it might not be so easy to add one chicken by itself.

 

My Dad is helping us build a 4mx2m walk-in run, so we have plenty of room, but only an eglu for them to sleep in. I would prefer to introduce a pair of hens, but the eglu is too small to sleep 5 isn't it? Or can I mix two bantams in with two 'normal' hens?

 

Or should I just leave things with the three hens? I don't know what to do for the best at the moment!

[quickcluck]

I think it's difficult to introduce a single hen.... and i'm not sure that a breeder would sell you one girl on her own........

 

If you want to replace porridge can you not get more than one????

 

I am sure someone with more experience will be along soon to help

[Steph101]

Don't do it! Introduce two if you can. We had a terrible experience with chicken bullying when we did that. I ended up re-homing the poor hen that we tried to introduce.

[HENthusiastic]

Hi, everything Ive ever read on omlet about introductions says not to just introduce one hen at a time. I understand its much harder for them to be accepted into the flock and they have a much rougher time of it. If it was me, I'd either get two new girls, or wait until you have another vacancy to introduce two new girls.

[Egluntyne]

I would add two since you are getting walk in run. You will be able to ri up a separate section for them for the intro period.

 

There is plenty of room in the Eglu for 5 to sleep. The only issue that I can see is that the normal recommendation is 4 hens per nesting box. You could rig an additional one up though.

 

Maybe it is time to get a cube!

[aliwobble]

Thanks for all your replies, you're all so helpful! I think we'll get two more hens when the walk-in run is finished (and provide more nest-box space). There does seem to be plenty of room left in the eglu at night - particularly as ginger likes to sleep in the nest box.

 

Although I might also look at the price difference between selling a second-hand eglu and buying a cube (without run)!

[Old Speckled Hen]

Look what I found

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Omlet-eglu-cube-Blue-chicken-house_W0QQitemZ300292476724QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry?hash=item300292476724&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1686%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[Louisdog]

I introduced a new omlet hen to my flock of nine in October, I took it slowly and had a spare ark to give trouble makers some time out, but she integrated really well and so it can be done. But two definitely easier I reckon.

[Purplemaniacs]

We lost one girl a little while ago leaving three in an eglu and extended run, personally I would not add one, although as Louisdog shows it can be done.

 

We are waiting for the walk in run to be built and have a cube ready and waiting, we will then add two more (or three or four, don't tell OH) as there will be space for gradual introductions.

 

Could you buy a second eglu or a cube

 

Chrissie

[Olly]

It can be done, I've just done it with Forensica's chicken Pippi, but it took some time and she is still a bit wary of mixing in with the big girls. You could use your Eglu run as a separating-pen while you have a new one.

 

On the whole though, I would get two, either now or when there's a, er, vacancy. It will be much easier.