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

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Get more chickens ?

 

Only Molly is laying so we're getting about 5 or 6 eggs a week . Milly lays fragile eggs every other day or so which break and Maisie hasn't laid for a couple of weeks now.

 

I'm going to worm them again just in case but I'm wondering if I will have to get more chickens to have enough eggs again .

 

You all know my setup. Is it feasible (or fair) to introduce 2 more girls into that space? If only one existing girl is laying properly, perhaps one nestbox would actually be enough between five?

 

I'm scared of spoiling things as my girls are so easygoing and are such good friends but we actually got chickens to provide us with eggs (no, really ) and much as they are pets now and I'm happy as long as they're happy, I really would like an egg supply again .

 

Help . I can't decide what to do. From next Wednesday, I'll be at home all the time (till 18th July) so have time to devote to introductions but we're leaving them in the care of a friend for 2 weeks then.

[tom123]

If I was you ANH I would go for it. As you said, you got them for eggs, when there aren't many eggs then you need more hens

 

Just take it slow and, like you said, they only need 1 nestbox as there will only be 3 girls laying.

 

Good Luck

Tom

[Redwing]

I knew what this was about the moment I saw it

 

I do think five chooks would sleep in an Eglu ok and you have already thought about an extra nest box in the past if I remember correctly so thats good if egg production starts up again

 

The only restriction is the size of the run as you already realise, your hens do get a lot off free range time though

 

I would say its a borderline case and am staying firmly on the fence

[Chickvic]

I would get some more girls, I will be in the summer. Only Opal is laying (Ruby hasn't laid for 7 months I'm pretty sure she's not going to bother again) But I've got to wait for the summer holiday because I work in a school and have 6 weeks at home to do the intros, my only stumbling block at the minute is finding a pre-loved eglu at the right price in the right area - but I'm working on DH anyway. Another eglu would always come in handy

[chelsea]

I'm afraid I disagree with the above...

 

If you are happy and your girls are happy in your set up I would stick to the three you have. I am often very tempted to get loads more girls, I have plenty of room but I also think about years ago when I only had the pair and think of how easy it was with fewer hens.

 

I think your set up is great just as it is.

[Yolky]

I think I agree with Chelsea. It must be frustraiting having three chooks and only one laying.

 

I am not quite sure how big your WIR is, is it 2m x 2.5m? If so I am wondering if it might be a bit of a squeeze for 5 hens. Especially at times like holiday times when they may get less or no free ranging times.

 

I am wondering if you could fit another eglu in your borders

[chickencam]

If I were you I would leave it until after your holiday, 2-3 weeks is not that long for them to settle down. We had on going problems for quite some time when we introduced 2 more to the original Omlet 2 and we had only had the Omlet ones for 3 months at the time so they shouldn't have been too set in their ways.

 

I know what you mean though, because although my 3 remaining girls are all laying, the quality of the eggs has gone down, particularly in the Pepperpots, my Light Sussex is still laying good eggs but she is a few months younger than the others.

 

We are building another run area and shock horror buying a wooden house, so that we can utilize some space to the side of our house. We would like to get 3 this year and another 3 next year but I am not sure that i could do the whole intro thing again

 

Difficult choice, best of luck with it

[Space Chick]

I worked out that you have 52 square foot before in your Walk in Run, which is 5 square metres, so enough room for 5 girls, especially with the levels you have put in and the fact that they get free-range time.

 

My only concern would be whether 5 would sleep in the Eglu OK.

 

I think you should go for it though if you think the Eglu will sleep 2 more, as you said, you wanted the girls for eggs and you are home with them for a while for introductions.

[atsw]

I'd say it's no contest, get more chooks!

 

We are in the same position, one old hen from our previous flock who is lovely, but been egg-less for almost a year now, and two Orps, who being pure breeds, stop laying once the nights close in.

 

The two Buff Orps were introduced last October and settled in very quickly and with no fuss at all (literally just a few days and all three were roaming around and sleeping together as if they had all been hatched together). Our WIR is a bit bigger at 90sq.f, but we don't have any levels. I check the girls each night before going to bed and they all huddle up in the Eglu, leaving plenty of space, both on the bars, or in the nest box - and bare in mind two of ours are Buff Orpingtons, so not small birds!

 

The chooks are great fun, a constant source of amusement, but like you, we originally got hens for eggs, the chicken obsession came later. If eggs have all but stopped, then it's time for more hens.

 

And I'm not just saying this, as you'll see from my signature I'm hoping for up to six new additions in a couple of days. I'm not expecting them all to hatch of course (4 out of 6 would be nice), and lets say 2 will be boys, so that should give us two new girls. They will come into lay next spring, at about the time I'd expect our old girl to pass on. Egg production from the Orps will go down next year too of course, so the new additions are perfectly timed and should ensure egg production is maintained next year and we will continue to maintain a reasonable sized flock of hens.

 

This plan will all fall apart if six eggs hatch and they are all girls of course

 

Andrew

[Lewis]

I knew what this was about the moment I saw it

And me

 

I'd say go for it, you know enough about chickens to cope and you have thought it all out.

Its best to have new hens now so that you get a good supply of eggs and they don't all stop at once then you have to get some POL's and introduce them .

[Egluntyne]

I'd say worm the girls first and see if it makes a difference, and review the whole thing when you come back from your hols.

 

5 will manage happily in the Eglu itself, and if you put some perchy things in the run there will be plenty of room for 5 to play nicely on the days they can't free range.

[Mutrix Farmers]

Without opening your post I had already answered "yes, whatever the question is, the answer is yes!!" And then I read your post and the answer is now YES!!!!!

[sparkysmum]

I really don't know either. I keep thinking the same thing. I would like more too for the same reasons but like you I don't want to upset the apple cart Another issue for me is noise. At the moment this isn't a problem but I'm wary of adding more chicks in case it becomes a problem. I'm just going to keep on dithering, wish I had the courage to go for it Sorry I can't be more definate Best wishes Ax

[The Dogmother]

I would say its a borderline case and am staying firmly on the fence

 

Now there's a first!

 

I would worm them as Egluntine has said and then look at adding to the flock.

 

We're down to 11 now and I don't plan to replace the last death. I'd like to get the numbers down to 10 perhaps; I have 4 newbies from last year, who are laying like stink, 2 freeloaders and the rest lay pretty well for pure breeds.

[AJuff]

Oh it would be a shame not too. 5sq metres is sufficient.

 

5 in an eglu is fine . . . only problem is . . what breeds to choose!!!!

[BocBoc]

Do it do it do it!! If yours are anything like ours, they sleep practically on top of each other so there will be plenty of room at bedtime in the eglu.

 

[Seagazer]

Its no good asking me as I'm dithering. I would love a and but don't want to upset my girls, plus all of mine are still laying apart from my broody girl. Good luck with deciding.

[Yolky]

I would *love* a or egg layer, just to brighten up my egg tray

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Despite having layers, I only get at the moment .

[Scramble]

*cough *

 

Everyone wants a blue egg...

[Guest]

I know nothing anyway but I ended up with 5 but do want some more and yesterday I drove straight past..Cotswolds Hens! Now I know where it is!! UM shame I didnt have a big box with me!! Will be going back that way one day next year..

 

My plan is once they slow down laying in a year or whenever that may be I will stagger some newbies in so that I can keep the production up...well that is the master plan...got to say I would worm first rather than creating a load of work for yourself(enjoyable work mind you)

 

Good luck hope they get their egg laying act together..ours have slowed down and are new but I think Mrs Broody is putting them off..or they are having a bit of a rest..I think mine must be due to be wormed too

 

5 chickens 2 eggs today..broody does hog the nest and i do remove HRH out

 

good luck

indie