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

[spencerwood]

I still have yet to purchase my Eglu – I’m just ironing out the last of the details. I gather you can get three or maybe up to six chickens in the same Eglu at a push but we wouldn’t want more than 4.

 

I like the sound of the two breeds that you can get when buying a new Eglu. There is a local farm that breeds all different types of chickens and we were thinking of maybe adding to the collection by getting another 1 or maybe 2 chickens from there. My wife has taken a fancy to the Welsummers that this farm has quite a lot of. She is worried though that you can’t mix and match the breeds. I can imagine that having 2 of one breed and 1 of another maybe a bit harsh on the odd one out – the other two might gang up! Ideally, I would like 4 completely different ones so there are easy to tell apart, all have you own unique characters and a good variety of eggs.

 

Does anyone have any tips for mixing up the breeds or is it safe enough to just bung them all in together?

 

Many thanks

 

Spencer

 

Photo retouching

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Four is certainly the most you could get in an eglu (a nestbox can only cope with up to 4). Assuming you've not got a walk in run, you'd also definitely need the converter on your run (and possibly an extension too if you have the room/cash!). If they can freerange a lot, the run space isn't such an issue.

 

Re breeds, I believe any mix can work but if they're to be contained in a run, getting girls of a similar size works best. They don't seem to notice they are different so you can certainly mix different breeds .

 

I have 3 different breeds - I like their different colouring and the fact that their eggs are totally different too . They get on brilliantly .

[Falkor]

What ANH said!

 

I have just (18 days) introduced a Bluebelle and an Amber Star to my two existing Orpingtons and they are getting along famously! They are living seperatly for now in a and but have started going to bed together when I am not there to supervise!

 

[feemcg]

As you can see from my signature below I have a large mix of breeds (got rid of my Welsummers though as they were very nervy and jumpy and set the other chooks off ). From my experience Hybrids and Marans are the easiest chooks to keep

[chelsea]

I agree with Fee above R.E Marans -

 

Our Maran was our cheapest hen (£14!) she's never been broody, never been ill (not even slightly) *touches wood* and is our most reliable layer. They are very hardy birds.