robskyd Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Hi, I'm new to the board and have just ordered my Eglu which is due for delivery a week on Thursday. Thats when we'll be off to the breeders to pick up the new members of the family... and thats where I'd like your advice. We don't know whether to get 2, 3 or 4 chickens. Would you advise start off small and then build up or just go all out for it so they get to know each other (and us!!) from day one? We had originally planned for only 2, but after reading so many messages on the boards saying people bought 2 and then wanted more; we're getting tempted before we've started!! Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Congratulations on your eglu order. If you're planning on keeping the chickens in the run all the time then it is only meant for 2. If they get to free range for some of the day then 3 and if they free range all day then 4. If you get the chickens all at the same time then you won't have to worry about introducing later on which sometimes doesn't go that well. I started off with 2 chickens and now have 4 soon to be 6 Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Welcome to the forum!! I guess it depends on how long the chickens will be spending in the run, and how long they will be out in your garden each day. If they are going to be confined to the run, then 2 is going to be enough - the run really isn;t big enough for two to live together comfortably, but if they are going to be freeranging during the day, then I'd just bite the bullet and go straight for 4! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 I have had 3 in the run on a full time basis & they were fine,but you can also get an extender for the run too. Mine didn't freerange much & were more than happy in the original Eglu run full time as a trio. 3 is a nice number to have - they work well in a small group & if the worse does happen & you lose one, you still have a pair left. It is certainly easier to get the amount right first rather than do introductions later, as this can be time consumming & a bit difficult too. I would go for 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robskyd Posted July 9, 2007 Author Share Posted July 9, 2007 Welcome to the forum!! I guess it depends on how long the chickens will be spending in the run, and how long they will be out in your garden each day. If they are going to be confined to the run, then 2 is going to be enough - the run really isn;t big enough for two to live together comfortably, but if they are going to be freeranging during the day, then I'd just bite the bullet and go straight for 4! . I work from home on most days so they can stay in the garden. With this info I've made an executive decision, we are going to have 3; I just need to run it by the wife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 If you're going to get three, then why not just go the whole hog and go for four......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 We have 3, but now they are free ranging most of the day everyday I wish we had got another.......Although now I think I will just wait and once ive conviced the OH to let me have a cube and get some more then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Whatever number you go for you wll always wish you had gone for more! I agree with what others say about space, though. I have 4 in each of my green eglus, but they both have extensions and converters, so they have plenty of room if they don't get to play out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 I am having the exact same problem trying to decide on how many to get! I have the eglu, and originally we thought we'd get 2, but then the OH was worried they'd trash the garden so we looked at getting bantams but they apparently spend a lot of time being broody so we've changed our minds back to normal chickens, and now I'm thinking how about getting 3.... It's so hard to decide, OH is much more cautious!! would it be possible to introduce 1 more if we got 2 now, or would the new one get badly bullied?? I have a feeling we'll get 2 and a few weeks down the line wish we'd got another one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 We got 3 to start off with and 1 died within hours of having her so we decided to stick with 2. Until about 2 weeks later and we added another 1 then a week after that another. I think that you sound like you would like 3. From my experience I would say get 3 from the start or when you decide you want more it is better to get 2 then they're not picked on so much. Having chickens is addictive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Not two. It's not enough, and it's good to have a spare. Not four. It's too many unless you have an extension or two. You know what makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 3 seems to be good. If I had more I think I would have trouble keeping tabs on them all when they're running around. We currently have 3 and they free range in the evenng - seems to be working ok so far but we may get a run extension come the winter. I'm going to wait and see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 I'm agreeing with the whole having 3 thing! I know the OH thinks that 2 is plenty, but I know that we'll want to add another at some point and I don't want to add just one, and I don't think we can cope with 4!! Thanks for the Bockett's farm details, I know where it is, I just didn't realise they actually sold chickens so that's brilliant news thanks ever so much for the info - do you know how long ISA Browns live on average?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 When we were looking at getting some. We were told they only lay for about 20 months. Not sure how long they live for though. We decided to go for breeds that hopefully would lay for a longer time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UkButton Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Those who have got more after intially buying two, how hard is it to intergrate them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Ah, get thirteen. You know it makes sense I've never found it that hard to integrate, but maybe I'm just heartless. I make sure they can get to another source of food and water, and intervene if there's blood, but otherwise I just try to ignore it. It's always worked fine for me. I have found it easier to introduce two rather than one though. probably why I now have thirteen. I did find that pekins never got pecked really, just ignored and kept away from the food for a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Uk button wrote Those who have got more after intially buying two, how hard is it to intergrate them? I've introduced a new hen to the group but I did it before my first 2 started laying. I was lucky and it went really well. But they do free range from 9am - 9pm. I think there would have been more problems, if they're in the run for longer. I would put the new hen in through the egg port when it's dark and hope they don't notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
