Kalu Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Hi, We currently have three ladies in our with a 3m run. Flo is now 3 years old and Lightning McQueen 2 and The King are both approx 18 months......I really would like another girl, one reason is that The King (Skyline) doesn't lay at all, she has laid about 6 eggs in total and I have given up expecting any more from her. So, apart from the difficulty of intros, would a fourth be too many in the space we have? They are generally in the run all week in the winter and FR at weekends plus light evenings in the Summer. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 you could always buy an extension for the run.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 If they are big girls I think 4 in a 3m run would be a little crowded and you are going to struggle with the intro as there just isn't enough room for the new girl to hide. Especially if they are only getting out at weekends. I had 4 hybrids in a with a 4m run. Do you have enough room to add another extension? I added the extension and got another door panel as the 4m run is difficult to get into to give it a good rake over. we slotted in some wooden slats for the new girls to jump over and under when we were doing the intros. You will probably have to spend a few days supervising intros and letting them FR together if you don't want WWIII Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I think introducing one chicken is not considered a good idea anyway, so this would make the run space a much more difficult issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I'm sorry but I'm going to say no as well. Don't really think your run is large enough for 4 hens esp if they will be in it for much of the day. Introducing a single hen is often very tricky as, unless intros are done really slowly, the older hens can be quite naughty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Id be worried about space in the coop also, I had three growing up in a Classic and it got a little cramped at nigh-times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissPug+Chooks Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 From my experience that would be too many - I had 2 in the regular run, added a third (who is king pin now) and feather pecking pursued. Our girls are in the run maybe 3 days a week all day and one of the chickens is always picked on and sometimes the original 2 just sit in the eglu through fear of going in the run and being bullied - so now we've just ordered a huge WIR so that when they are in there will be more room.. I would love to add more, but wont out of fear of bullying... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I'm sorry but I'm going to say no as well. Don't really think your run is large enough for 4 hens esp if they will be in it for much of the day. Introducing a single hen is often very tricky as, unless intros are done really slowly, the older hens can be quite naughty. I second that. Sorry, but the Newbie could get terribly bullied and have no way of escaping. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
