birdy woman Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 Have been thinking about stating off with 3 chickens but have been told 2 or 4 would be best Any views on this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 to me three is a great number I would say that if you feel you would want more long term its worth getting that many from the start as introductions are sometimes long and drawn out requiring separate accomodation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy woman Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 was told that if you had 3 one would aways be hen pecked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I can't see why that would happen just because there are three. If you have three young hens that around the same age and size, I think you will be fine. They will have the odd falling out but so do any creatures who live with each other. Go for it!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crankycookie Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 For what it's worth, I started with 2 and now wish I had gotten 3 right off the bat. Later I lost one due to a raccoon attack and then I had a lonely hen for about a month, then had to deal with introducing her to two young pullets, whom she bullied for a few months before all getting along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 I wouldn't have fewer than three. There may be squabbles initially, whatever the number. They will soon settle down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 I started with three and they got on great. Others since then have stuck in twos but only because they were introduced together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 Like Plum I started with 3, no pecking issues (all from Cotswold Chickens on the same day, which will have helped but still...) and an egg a day from each of them pretty much ever since, except when Broody Brigid is living up to her name To me, it seemed the perfect starter as there was no risk of a lone hen if one died suddenly...What's more I managed a whole 8 months before latent MoreHens disease entered an acute phase - 2 pairs of intros in the past 2 months but my original 3 are still good friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 I started with 3 as well . Absolutely no problem, they were friends from the off . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 We started with 3 too...no probs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 Hi i read somewhere that hens live happier in groups of 3, 6 , 9 etc. Not sure why but am sure there is a logical explanation for this. I would go for 3 if i were you, at least then if you lose 1 the others wont be on their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 I think 3 is a great number to start off with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 We just went for 2 initially but really wished we'd gone for 3 as i constantly worry about the problems that will arise when one dies and we have to introduce newbies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThinkingChickens Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 Hi, I have a Go and we started with three. They are all from the same farm, all born and raised together. I have a Jersey Giant, a Delaware and a Barred Rock. They are now 8 and 9 weeks old, no pecking, no issues thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 3 is a good number, I certainly wouldn't advise 3 over 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 I started with 3 and all was good. Agree with earlier post though that I wish I'd got more to start with to limit intros. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 We started with 3, sadly one died (wee Maisie) but no problems when we did have 3, I would have been worried if we only had 2 in case we lost one. The thing is, you probably won't stop at 3 so be prepared! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 For what it's worth, I started with 2 and now wish I had gotten 3 right off the bat. two young . Me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 We'll be having more than two with our next lot - trouble is now we can't decide whether to have three or four! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammiboo Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 I agree with the 3. I got 2 to start with, i was going to get three but the amberlinks werent ready until a week later, so i got 2 then collected 2 more the week after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
