alih Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 I have done lots of intros of various combinations of chickens over the years, all of which have gone fine. I have been offered a single established chicken (the lady has 3 and only wants 2!) and was wondering whether, in order to introduce it to my 3, it would be better to buy 2 POLs and merge those with the newbie first then merge the 2 groups? I know introducing a single to a group takes time, which is fine, but if anyone can advise me about the above option I would be very grateful. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 I'd do what you've suggested. As all three will be new to you, then there should be minimal argy-bargy with each other. Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 I have introduced a single chicken, Annie, to a flock of about 8 at the time. It took a little more time and patience than introducing a group but not too much and it all went smoothly. I would say though that it depends on the personality of the single hen. Annie is a no nonsense girl and a bit of a diva but could and would hold her own. If I had tried to do that with Quendon though, who is very much our bottom hen and is scared of just about everything, I'm not sure it would have worked so well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted August 9, 2010 Author Share Posted August 9, 2010 Ok so it seems either way would work eventually. Of course it I did it the way I was thinking I would have 3 new chickens rather than 1. But I only have an eglu and though 5 (when there were 5) squashed in nicely I wonder whether 6 would be a chicken too far? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellybean29 Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 i currenty just have the three chickens and im going to add another soon. when it was just my 2 orps and i decided to give them another friend, as there old buddy turned out to be a cockeral! i found having free run of the garden ment that joyce had plenty of room to keep a distance from the other 2 and keeping her in a run for the first couple of days ment that when she was let out there wasnt as much argueing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Unless they free range most of the time, I think 6 in an eglu run is too many. Four is the maximum I would go for, and even then I'd want to free range them a lot. You could get a converter and an extension if you had the room - that would give you some more space - but do you have the room? Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted August 9, 2010 Author Share Posted August 9, 2010 Sorry guys, I didn't make myself clear - I have an eglu inside a walk-in-run. The only time they need the eglu is to sleep/ lay and many of the ones I have /had perchoutside even in winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
