Solitary chicken - need advice

[JS1]

Hi, I have three hens in a wooden house with integral run which is supposed to be big enough for six-to-eight medium birds. They wander about in an area surrounded by about 40 feet of electric fence most of the time, which we move every three or four months (to let the grass recover!).

 

Thing is, I'm thinking of getting three ex-batts, possibly next month, and am wondering what to do about housing. I'm aware that I'll need to keep them separate for the first wee while, and a friend had an unused Eglu which I was hoping to borrow, but it's been promised to someone else

 

So what to do? I'm tempted by the idea of having another coop in case of sickness etc and also might get a couple of pure breeds at some point, and also, will presumably have more intros along the way in the future, which means extra housing would be a good thing.

 

So would an Eglu be an investment (I like its classic lines); would a Go with a rigged up run to keep the birds separate be the way to go? Should I get another house similar to the one I have (which is very nice)? Or what?

 

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated

[ubereglu]

It is always useful to have another house spare just in case and both the eglu classic and the go are good, and have room for up to four medium sized birds, (eg your ex bats).

 

Also if you do decide to buy another house, (eglu or otherwise) with a run it will be a lot easier for intros and it means the birds would have somewhere to go. Plus if you have a new lot of ex-bats once you have intergrated the first lot you still have a spare house.

[TAJ]

Personally I would say an eglu. I am looking at needing another at present and will opt for an Eglu not a Go due to the design and ease of putting together, less run sections, etc.

 

Tracy

[JS1]

That's really helpful, thanks - do you think I should get the extended run or just the normal one??

[ubereglu]

The normal one should be ok, especially as you'll eventually let them out to free range and any space you can give them will be bigger than they're used to!

[Egluntyne]

I disagree I'm afraid.

 

If it is your intention to eventually house them all together, then go for as much run length as you can afford/accommodate, as there will be days when you can't let them out, and they will need the extra space.

[The Dogmother]

I disagree I'm afraid.

 

If it is your intention to eventually house them all together, then go for as much run length as you can afford/accommodate, as there will be days when you can't let them out, and they will need the extra space.

 

I agree with this - you always need to bear in mind that there might be times when they need to be in the run all day.

 

I kept my eglu classic when I got the cube and am now so glad that I didn't sell it.

[JS1]

Thanks - my feeling is the more space the better, but I wasn't sure for how long they'd be using the eglu run before moving into the bigger house/run, so wondered if I could set up some kind of temporary run. They're only confined to the run when the electric fencing battery is being recharged and for half an hour before they put themselves to bed (I get paranoid at twilight )

 

I think I'll probably go for the eglu and extended run for the flexibility (wish they still did the blue one )

[The Dogmother]

When you're trying to integrate ex-batts with regular girls, you will always need longer for them to adjust than with normal hens. I always advise to be prepared in case they never manage to integrate.

 

They don't have any idea of social hierarchies, usually have poor muscle tone, and will need to adjust slowly to the environment and soil bacteria in your area - don't forget that they've never had to build up any immunity to normal bugs and viruses.

[JS1]

That's useful to know - I was anticipating that it would take quite a long time and a lot of work, but hadn't factored in the possibility of needing to keep them separated forever. I suppose best to be prepared....

[The Dogmother]

Some birds are in better condition when they're rescued than others - I hope you're lucky with yours.