What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[K-F-C]

As some of you may be aware, MiMi, my lavender araucana was euthanised this week due to Marek's disease.

 

I am now not sure what to do about replacing her. As I see it, these are some of my options:

 

1. Do not replace her yet... but wait two or three years until my other girls have reduced laying and get a couple of newies then. (Con: I'd kinda like 4 birds now... and I like buying new 'things'!)

 

2. Replace her with a pair now... I quite like the look of the gold laced varieties and Plymouth Rocks. (Con: Do I really want 5 birds now... knowing that I'd want more egg layers in a few years time)

 

3. Replace her with one Jersey Giant! A breed I love! (Con: Is it OK to introduce one new chicken... even is she is a big one! I assume she'd be able to hold her own because of the size but what would she be like with the others?!)

 

Thanks!

[Egluntyne]

I'd wait till spring now if I were you. Most breeders are beginning to wind down now and the choice will be poor.

 

I'd go for two.

 

Not sure about the Jersey Giant. I've never seen one.

[K-F-C]

Wernlas breed the Jersey Giant... it does seem a breed that you don't hear too much about.

 

I'll defo wait till Spring.

[cluckingmad]

Jersey giants are lovely birds - really friendly (and ever so snuggly due to all the feathers!)

 

What ever you do, make sure the newbies are vaccinated - Wernlas do all theirs routinely at hatching so that way you'd be sure that the new girls can't become poorly

 

(finnily enough, we were there today - OH really wanted a lavendar arucana but they didn't have any ready... he was not a happy boy.... but means I may be able to persuade him to get another eglu so we can have some when they're in )