Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Smudge]

Hi

 

We've only had our Go and two girls for a month, but having studied these forums it seems to me that general opinion is that it's better to have 3 girls than 2, so that when the inevitable happens there won't be one sad lady left on her own.

 

We're now undecided about whether to go and get another companion for our girls as we have worries about how to go about introducing a new hen - we only have our one Go and the standard run. Also if we do go ahead, will the Go and run definitely be enough space for 3 hens, as Mon-Thurs they're only able to FR in the evenings when we're home from work? And finally, will we have to put in two Grubs, or will a pecking order establish and they will feed at different times, as we've found with just the two they tend to both have their heads in the Grub together!?

 

Sorry if this all sounds a bit daft, but being new to all this any advice that will help us to make up our minds would be much appreciated!

 

Thanks.

[cavysqueak]

I'm not an accomplished chicken keeper - only kept chickens for a year and a half. But from what I've heard and what I know / have observed about chickens I would suggest that you don't try to introduce only one hen. They can get bullied constantly from the other two. We're in the middle of an introduction and we've introduced three new hens to two older girls. I'm glad we decided on three newbies rather than two as the pecking is spread out between all three. So no one hen gets constantly pecked.

 

We started off with three hens in a and yes there was enough space (we also both work, so FR was only once we got home), and yes, when we lost one the others still had each other for company. They then became a two, which did worry me, but I had no choice. We then waited until now before adding to our flock. So we've had only two hens for about a year now.

 

My advice would be to bide your time for now, if the worst happens then you have to cross that bridge when you come to it. There are people on here who've had to introduce new hens to only one 'old' girl, so it can be done. Also they can give you advice on that if you ever need it (cross fingers you won't).

 

Good luck with the two you've got. You'll love this hobby - my husband and I love our girls!

[Leicester_H]

Hi

I would say no. The 2 you have are settled together now - I think they probably wouldn't take kindly to a single new girl.

Enjoy the 2 you have and when the inevitable happens, introduce 2 new girls to the remaining one.

H

 

Edit - Was writing my post when 1st reply above was alos being written - so they overlapped - but I think we're both suggesting the same thing

[Mercedes55]

I'm very new to keeping hens, only had mine for just a month. We have 4 hens in a standard run and it's a tight squeeze for them

 

Now you can fit 4 hens inside the actual Eglu, it's the run that is the problem with more than 3 hens I think. So if you had more hens then 2 would be better but then there is the problem of introducing them to your existing hens, which you can't really do if they are all in the same run. So I have come round full circle and am in agreement with what the others say which is to stick with the 2 for now

[Bertrum]

We have 2 and I personally don't buy this "get three so if one dies you still have 2" argument. You still end up with 2, and then 1 eventually. I've never done introductions but I would rather attempt one on one, or two new to one old.

 

Plus you have a Go, so that means standard run, so that means 3 hens is a tight fit. Some say it is fine, others say no way, but there is nowhere for a bullied hen to escape to in such a set up.

 

I'd stay with 2 and deal with introductions in a few years when you have to.

[mrs chook]

I would keep to two as they are settled now then when one goes maybe get a pair, as introducing one would probably not be a good idea.

 

Hopefully this won't be for a long time if you have recently got them!!

[Smudge]

Thanks for your replies.

 

You've convinced me to carry on with just our two, and deal with the possible problem of a lonely hen at a (hopefully much!) later date. I'll discuss with the OH this evening, but I'm pretty sure he'll agree, having seen your advice.

 

I must say, after only a month with our girls, we're loving having them around, and despite my new flowerbeds getting quite a trashing, I can't begrudge them anything when they're producing lovely eggs for us every day, even at this early stage.