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

[Kit]

Hi

 

My 3 hens are going back to the breeder where they came from for a hen holiday whilst we are away.

 

I am wondering whether I should ask them to introduce another hen into the equation so that when I come home I can bring 4 back and it will be easy with no bulling etc going on.

 

What are everybody's thoughts? Is it cruel to introduce 1 new girl to 3 established ones already?

 

Kit

[Redwing]

Its a lot harder introducing just one however it also depends on the nature of your three and the new one

 

In a way introducing another hen whilst the others are not on their turf sounds a good idea, on the other hand if they are already up-tipped by a change of scenery it could make it all so much worse!

[tara]

Its not somthing id do its bad enough putting 2 or 3 in.May be if you have room have a couple more also the bullying would still go on when you get back.It can take a few weeks to put more hens in full time.I normally do it over 3 or 4 weeks.Sorry l could not give you a better answer Is there anr breed you had in mind.

[redfrock]

I have introduced 1 into 11 before (she was a chicken of Fate). It can be done, but just really really slowly

[Lewis]

Well

We had Babs with another 2 chickens, which she killed after a few months of being together and she went on holiday to the farm where she came from (I worked there aswell).

I chose a few bantams and asked the staff to put them in the run next to her, and when we got back after a week, we put the 2 in with Babs to see what would happen, and she just started attacking them and they just sat there and let her get on with it. I know you have to expect some fighting but this was worse.

Anyway, she went home a single chicken and then we bought 4 hybrids and kept them separately .

 

You could try though, as you wont lose anything, they just might not get on

[Egluntyne]

I've also done 1:11 and am now doing 1:14. I agree with Redfrock....it can be done, but not in a hurry.

[Kit]

Hi

 

Thank you everybody for your replies.

 

I think I will leave as it is..keep my 3 girls as a team of 3. No point in upsetting them or even worst take a new girl for her to be bullied.

 

I wish I had the time to introduce more hens but with a part time job, a 4 year old daughter to look after I would not be able to give quality time for introductions.

 

 

Wish I bought a cube and more hens from the very beginning...my girls look lonely sometimes when free ranging in an acre on their own

 

Kit

[Lewis]

Don't let me put you off, as Egluntine and redfrock have done it. Babs was one of a kind and would never have lived with others.

 

I think if you were going to introduce another, this would be the time to do it. All of them in an unknown place, so no-one is top chicken, and at a chicken breeders, they will hopefully know what they are doing.

 

You could ask them what they think, and if they aggree, give it a go