Chicken picking at feet

[Mandymoo]

Hello, I'm new to the forum but have been keeping chickens since September last year. I was wondering if anyone else keeps large Orpingtons in an eglu classic and how many. I used to have three in mine but recently had to have one pts. It is now rather sad with just two and as adding one would be a little traumatic I hoped I could maybe introduce two bantams, but will there be enough room in the eglu, what do people think? Thanks

[lindafw]

I want to know how you fitted three large orps in a classic maybe mine are bigger than most as they are huge they live in a with 10 smaller birds.

 

I am sure someone else will be able to advise

[TAJ]

I thought the answer was none! It use to be they were on an Omlet list of breeds too large for this housing. I cann't imagine my giant black bundle of fluff in my eglu, though fits fine in my cube. They are sloe growing birds - from memory I yhink it is 2 years before they are full size.

 

Tracy

[Plum]

The bantams aren't big. Mine is smaller than a bantam wyandotte but I believe most are just smaller than a hybrid

[Redwing]

If you already have two large orps in an Eglu I wouldnt add any more not even bantams

[Daphne]

I have kept 2 LF orps in a classic with no problems, but they had a run extension, a pen to run in and in any case were mostly FR. I have also had one LF, one bantam and several poland bantams in one, again with the extension and pen. Recently I even had 2 LF, and 3 LF sussex in one for one night (their choice) however there was no room to breathe, and all the time a large cube stood by empty which is where the orps were supposed to be

 

Personally, I think 2 LF is enough unless they have a lot of extra space. In the past I have also had some rather mean orpingtons who pecked at the bantams, admittedly from one strain, so its not perhaps usual. I have also found that in the absence of a cockeral, 2 female LF orps tend to pal up, they seem to like toddling around together.

[Uma]

I currenly have 3 in a classic. Albeit temporarily until we build the walk in run and then they will be going in the cube with the other girls. OUrs fit in fine, happy to go in at night. However, they do free range during the day. I don't think I would do it for a long period of time though.

 

Uma

[Mandymoo]

Thanks for the replies. The Eglu is in a 90 square foot wir and they fr whenever I'm in the garden, so the outside space isn't a problem, it was the actual room inside the eglu I was concerned about. Anyway I think I've persuaded the oh to get a cube later in the year so I can introduce a couple other hens then.