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

[Rhesus]

I'm in two minds... Took delivery of Cube and 3 girls on Wednesday. Very settled and Hilda has produced 2 eggs already. I want a Sussex but at the same time want to get settled with keeping the hens and not run before I walk. If I waited until Spring to get a Sussex what experience do you have of the girls just getting on with it rather than a slowly slowly approach. I don't really want to get a whole new run and sleeping accommodation if I can help it.

 

Help anyone

 

Doris

Hilda

Marjorie

[chick wiggle]

If you really want a sussex, id say get one now. If you leave it any longer the original girls will have formed a group and there will be aggression towards any newcomers. But as you have only had them a few days, they should be ok. Even better if you added 2 because then they are not odd ones out Besides, sussexs are brill. I have 2 and one of them especially loves her cuddles and is very jealous if any of the others are on my lap and will jump up and try to get on my lap too. Let us know what you decide.

[Egluntyne]

There are two ways of looking at this.

 

If you do it now (and with 2 rather than one) it should go reasonably smoothly. If your current hens are POL then they won't be as aggressive and unwelcoming as they will be when fully mature. If you make sure that the new hens are the same age things shouldn't be too bad. Inevitably there will be some bickering.

 

If you do it in the Spring, you will be more confident and will know how to handle things.

 

Some tips **here**.

[Ms Tilytinkle]

Helloo

We've done 3 intro's, I'm also a firm believer in adding two in amongst the established girlies as opposed to one. Both we did fairly quickly & we cut our teeth together as they established their routines & pecking order we learnt the joys of chook keeping.

First time (all new chicks but purchased from 2 different places) as they were sooo new & newly joined - no bickering at all - just seemed to fit in & follow suit. 2nd time we introduce 2 new girlies to 4 girlies, all similar age, we had a few scuffles for around a week or so but nothing too worrying . . so much so they themselves united forming one flock even though we used separate housing for the intro's. so we let them get on with it & decided sooner than expected to house them all in the cube. The last 3rd intro, introducing 3 ladies to our original 4 . . this time the inherited ones were used to a cube so they adopted the cube themselves but stuck to their own , didnt range with the other 4 girlies. They kept their own space for few weeks until they naturally somehow merged together as one flock again. We had the occasional 'eye to eye' stand offs - reminding all who's boss, but no real scuffles. (we have been sooo lucky)

I also think the ease in which they merge more quickly, may be how much room you will have, as ours free range daily there is much room for them to adapt with each other without being too territorial, if thats the right expression.

So if it were my choice & I was just starting again - I'd purchase 2 or 3 now & intro immediately as Spring is still 7 months away & will you be able to get the older chickens then to be same age as the ones you have now. We were very lucky both times to inherit 2nd hand chooks, as they were exactly the same age as ours. I wouldn't contemplate purchasing new younger ones to add to my ladies. When we looked for others & rang up breeders they only had younger ones, couldnt find one who sold older ladies.

 

All said & done . . You must do as you feel best for you & your chickens,

 

Ms Tillyooopssorryforrambling.GoodLuckwithyourchoicesandintros.