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[bobbytoad]

Hi All

 

I'm currently awaiting delivery of my eglu and at the moment 2 hens. My question is whether I should go for three from the offset?

 

my credentials are ...

 

first time chicken keeper

lawned garden of 10m x 6m

equal sized decked area (though I guess somewhat less nutritious than a lawn)

and an area of 1m x 3m of bark chippings in which I intend to erect a larger run.

 

I’m minded to get the extra one now and avoid potential difficulties introducing a new one in the future to an established flock, (assuming three omlet birds delivered at the same time would avoid need for segregation etc.

 

Will the standard run (with occasional free ranging) be ok for three hens until i get a new run on built on the wood chips (next month or two)

 

Would my garden be large enough to entertain three hens?

 

Thanks for your views

Edited April 5, 2009 by Guest

[keyhole kate]

Hi

Definately go for three it is much easier to establish a pecking order with 3

than 2 also should anything happen to one you will not have a lonely chook

and then have to introduce a one/two new girls to try to re balance your set up

hope this helps 3 are much more fun anyway

 

Kate

[girlsmum]

Hi Bobbytoad

I was only going to get 2 but everyone said 3 is better so i listened and got 3. Have had them for about 6 weeks now and im glad i got 3. They are lovely and funny and no trouble to look after.

Enjoy your girls however many you decide to get

 

Girlsmum

[bobbytoad]

oh

 

ps. the wife is expecting two, and when I hinted that a third would round off the roost quite nicely, she inferred I’d meet a very sticky end (i put it down to pre-chick nerves)

 

.... but how could I ignore all your valuable experienced advice??? look like a phone call to Omlet Monday morning to add an extra lady to my order

[kez]

I had 2 hens, but wishing I had got 3.

 

Defo get 3

[Hen Watch]

I apologise in advance for this particularily dithery reply.

 

If you think you will end up with more hens in the short term then get all 3 now as intros of new hens are a pain (I introduced 1 after only 4 weeks and it was not nice to watch nasty bullying). Also chickens are flock birds and if the worst happens and 1 dies you won't have a lonely one. So on that score, go for 3 from the outset.

 

Being new to chicken keeping is not a bar to how many to get. 3 are no more trouble than 2. But more chickens = more poo, more scratching up of the garden and ocassionally more noise. I'm sure there are folk on this forum who are more than happy with just 2 as well as some who wished they'd got the third one at the outset.

 

3 in a standard run is OK but if free ranging time is limited you may want to think about buying a converter for the run to add an extra 1m but that then has space implications for your garden.

 

Like I said, no help am I...... have fun whatever you decide. Chickens make great pets.

[Egluntyne]

I'm with the 'get three brigade.' It is far simpler in the long term, for the reasons already described.

 

If two of them are of the same breed, your wife will never notice.

[fluffyknickers]

I say...THREE for all the same reasons.

 

Michelle

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Definitely 3 (for all the above reasons ).

[cambridgehens]

Hi there - had the same dilemma about 4 weeks ago and put out a similar post to yours.

 

Our garden is about 30ft x 6ft and I was unsure about whether our garden would be big enough but they haven't even discovered the back half of the garden yet, so I don't think size is an issue with 3 hens.

 

Yes, more mess but unless you've had 2, you don't know what to compare it to, so it doesn't make any difference - at least that's the way I'm choosing to look at it when I clear out the Eglu!!

 

Plus, 3 are more entertaining...you have an extra character to amuse you.

 

Hope you enjoy them!

 

cambridgehens.

[bobbytoad]

Thanks for all your feedback

 

happy to say that my order for an addittional has been placed

 

Now for the hard bit.... choosing some names

[Janty]

Surely the hard bit was telling the wife.

 

 

Or haven't you done that yet?

 

[Eggquisite]

Hi there...

 

We had a very similar dilemma.. the great plan was to have 3..

 

then my boyfriend would only have had one chuck of his own ... so the current

plan 2x Pekins Frizzles for me & I've let him have 2x Light Sussex

 

Good luck with the wife

[bobbytoad]

Surely the hard bit was telling the wife.

 

 

Or haven't you done that yet?

 

 

 

Of course I havn't told her .... !!!

[Barkisland]

Definitely three. In fact, I can't believe you needed to ask

[Looney]

We got two hens to begin with.....but I wish we had got three!

[Cooks]

yes I started with 2 but really wishes I had got 3

[badgerbluebadger]

I have two but I can only fit a standard run in my garden and my girls can only freerange in the evening and at weekends.

 

I do wish I could have a whole flock! A bigger garden will be on the top of my list when we move!!!!

[Abbey Road Girl]

Hope that this is not too late, but what about "belt and braces" and going for four? I did that because I didn't want to have to introduce new hens if I lost one of three (a pair will bond in a way that will make new additions more difficult).

 

Whatever you decide, enjoy!

[Purplemaniacs]

I agree with the others, it has to be three. Glad you added to your order.

 

When are they arriving?

 

Chrissie

[Surrey Hen]

I'd say 3 is always better than 2.

 

I started with 2 but I now realise I was being selfish and thinking only of how many eggs I wanted - needless to say I now feel terrible and am making preparations to add one or 2 more girls. I have bought extensions and a converter for the run and a 2nd house to keep new girls in for the period of the introductions. I've read everything everyone has posted about introductions - good and bad - and am about ready to go. I'll let you know when my new girls arrive

 

 

Annabel

Lucinda

[atsw]

I'd say 3 is always better than 2.

I agree. When we started out we only got two, but since then have tried to maintain a flock of three. Which ever combination of girls we've had, they always seem happier as a threesome.

 

Andrew

[Yolky]

I am glad now that we got three. They are all Omlet hybrids but one of the s goes broody quite alot, this means she is often in the nest leaving the other 2 out on their own, had I only got 2 chooks I would have had one lonely chook in the run. I also think they look more of a flock with 3.