Single hen

[Kalu]

Hello,

 

Our first arrives at the beginning of April, with our first ever chooks (hopefully a and a ).

 

I really like the idea of a as well, I know the blurb says that an eglu is for 2 - 4 chickens but would three be a bit of a squeeze. If not, when would be a good time to introduce a third - straight away or leave it a little while?

 

All opinions please!

 

Many thanks,

K

[Cooks]

3 is recommended as 'should' you lose a hen then you will be left with a pair and not a lone bird.

[Willow]

The best thing is to get 3 from the start (ie at exactly the same time) so no introduction problems early. Chickens like company so if the worst happens and one dies you don't need to panic and get another quickly. I kept 5 in an eglu for a long time (they free ranged all day). If you are not letting them out to free range in thegarden at all you need an run extension so you have enough space.

[Kalu]

Oooh thanks Cookiemonster - that is just what I want to hear! I wasn't sure if it would be a bit of a squeeze, I should have said - they will be able to free range the garden when I am home a few days a week but will be stuck in the run 3 days a week when I am in the office.

 

Should I go and get no 3 on the day Lightning and Sally arrive so they all arrive together?

[Falkor]

I would say yes, all three together.

[Cooks]

I would say yes, all three together.

 

 

just as Em says, all 3 on same day is what they recommend good luck!

[Kalu]

Thanks everyone for the info - as soon as I know what time they are arriving I will arrange to pop to Thornes to get a white girl so she is waiting for the and the other two.........will it be ok to keep her in a large plastic cat carrier for an hour or two if necessary?

 

Thanks again for your quick replies

[Cooks]

if it were me I would get the eglu set up then go and collect her but thats just me.

[Falkor]

What came first the chicken or the egg.......lu?

 

My three spent an hour in a large pet carrier whilst we built the eglu. They had food and water and were fine. They were only ten weeks so were fairly small though.

 

I am sure she would be fine if you timed it right.

[Kalu]

Would the first two be ok with a third being introduced maybe a couple of hours after they have arrived do you think?

 

Sorry for so many questions!

I have read a bit about tricky intros and don't want to upset any of the girls.....

[Redwing]

I agree with the others, get three but do try and add the run converter if you can as it will give them extra space.

 

I would add all in to the run at the same time if possible, if you have a large dog cage or similar they will be ok for a few hours if necessary. If you are going to have a netted enclosure they could go in there providing you are around to keep an eye on things

 

Perhaps someone could go for the at the same time as the Eglu is being assembled?

 

 

Good luck!

[Kalu]

Thanks for all your replies. I have emailed and asked that a run converter be added to my delivery and will try to get my white girl as close to delivery time as possible.

 

Thanks everyone!

[Redwing]

Cool, that sounds good! I have a large dog cage and Omlet netting if you get stuck with the timings just let me know, I work in Luton.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Just to add my two pen'orth, I have 4 exbatts in my at the mo & when I look up the run and into the door at night, I can't see any of them, they all snuggle up so tightly against the egg port! The same was true when I only had my original three in .

 

I do have about 4 metres of run though so they are happy-ish to be left shut in on the odd days when I am out & about. When I'm home they all free range with the other chooks, Orpies & dogs.

 

I'd try & pop out for the whilst the Eglu's being put together if you can so they all bundle in together & are all on the same level of top/bottom chook to start with (does that make sense to anyone other than me..... )

 

Sha x

[mags]

i have 4 , run converter & extension

I looked in on them last night and they cuddle in eglu so they are not over crowded.

 

mags

[tania]

We got 3 just a week ago and I was worried that they would be too crowded but they are fine, 2 of my girls are quite big as well. They all huddle together in the corner of the Eglu at night and last night Martha was underneath the other 2 (I thought I'd lost her!) 3 is great! They are fine in the run but do free range for an hour or 2 every day:P

[Mutrix Farmers]

When our old girls stop picking on the newbies and I can put them all together, I will have 4 in an eglu with a 4 metre run.

[mostin]

It sounds as if everyone has answered all your questions and you have it all sorted now. They will definitely all fit in the eglu. I have 7 girls split between 2 eglus and I found them all in one eglu last night, by their own choice , and there was still room to spare . They just love cuddling up together .

[..lay a little egg for me]

Would the first two be ok with a third being introduced maybe a couple of hours after they have arrived do you think?

 

Sorry for so many questions!

I have read a bit about tricky intros and don't want to upset any of the girls.....

We introduced a new hen 4 days after getting ours (one had to be returned and we had a replacement) and it was fine. A few hours will be fine.

[Guest]

The only thing I can say is leave me a chicken at Thornes...I have ordered 2 when my cube is delivered and I am debating whether to go and pick a couple more chickens up at Thornes but for me the day before is a BH(its being delivered 14th April) ..seems such a long way off . They had some really nice selection of birds at Thornes so let us know what u get...am new to this chicken lark too! I think i am going to put another question on.......here it comes

Good luck

indie

[Kalu]

Hi Indie,

 

I popped up to Thornes yesterday morning for a chicken moment! They were having a delivery, I am sure the guy said 400 but I might have got that wrong, he said they have sold 200 since the beginning of the year!

 

They did have some lovely silver laced Wyandottes which are beautiful......am about to do a post to see what they are like with children and as layers.....I had planned on getting a not sure what type they are, on our last visit the lovely chap at Thornes said the ones in the big runs as you first go in are really good with children. He also said that the and that we are getting with our eglu are really good with children which was nice to hear from someone who knows their chooks!

 

Roll on the 1st April for us and roll on the 14th for you!!

[BarbaraJ]

Welcome to the forum, where in herts are you? i just got 3 lovely girls from Thornes