AndreaT Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 I just had a phone call from a breeder saying he could deliver new birds, including an orpington, for me tomorrow if I wanted it! I'm sooo tempted but I'm worried that I would have too many in my run. It's 6' x 12' and I have 5 (mostly large) girls with a new araucana due next week. I was thinking that I could get an orpington and a cream legbar from the breeder and cancel the araucana or get two orpingtons plus the araucana but that would be 2 introdutions. Did I do the right thing by saying no even though having an orpington was top of my list and I didn't get one?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 you could always increase the size of the run too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benaberry Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 head says yes you did the right thing heart says get the orpington (as I adore my big fluffy girls) However, bear in mind this is coming from someone who went out last week to get a cream legbar and a buff orpington, and came back with both, plus a cuckoo orp, a barnevelder, a RIR, and a leghorn Husband reckons I'm going for the full colour suite of orpingtons - I tried to persuade him to do without a garden shed so I could add another 8 x 8 foot area to the WIR under construction and fit in a few more colours, he said 'no' (and thought I was joking ) I think you have to take into consideration, are you like me? are you always going to regret not wanting a chicken that was your first choice, and had your heart set on? if so, maybe getting one now, whilst the flock is relatively new, might be for the best, rather than still hankering after one and trying to introduce further down the line? Ask yourself, which do you really, really want more - the orp, or the others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 One odd hen will be hard to introduce. Why not get the Araucana as planned and one orp from the breeder, they could go in together (one newbie on one newbie should be ok) quarantine them together but away from the others then start to think about introducing them to the rest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 My heart is saying orpington too! However I don't have a set up for quarantine. The araucana is coming from the same breeder as my others (replacing the boy he gave me!) and up until 2 weeks ago they all lived together in a big pen so I'm hoping that will be ok. Unfortunately he doesn't have any orpingtons so if I did get one she would be a loan addition from a different breeder which I'm guessing is not good. I could get another from the orpington breeder but that wouldn't help in terms of quarantine. Guess I'll have to wait for the orpington for now and just enjoy the girls I have got! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
