millymollymandy Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Hi I have just finished my WIR (piccies in other thread) and I have a cube with a big run and only 4 chickens. Over the years I have lots of trouble with feather plucking and bullying with past chooks. At the moment I have four happy spoilt chickens in a luxurious home. I don't really want to get new chickens and have to start again with bumper bits and sprays and separating chooks because of bad behaviour. I have never had more harmonious chooks than I have now but new chooks are very tempting so should I just leave the ones i have to their palace where all is good or be brave and get more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Hi millymollymandy (incidentally the names of my 1st 3 chooks!! )Been having that quandary myself, but over adding another cockerel as I lost my boy in dec (he had to be PTS ) I guess weigh up how old your girls are and if eggs are important they say add 2 to the flock each year. Also, do you have separate accommodation for quarantine and slow intros?? Obviously your run and cube are fine for more but it will be a bit of work for you and stress for your girls. I guess adding 4 to 4 would be best?? Do you have any breeds/types in mind?? I've only ever intro'd pekins and it hasn't been too bad (famous last words!! ) "Ooops, word censored!"ody can tell you what's best as with most things chickeny!!! Let us know what you decide!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 I think the answer is in the words you have used in your post Why not sit back and enjoy what you have? The happiest chooks are those with plenty of space and a keeper who is feeling calm and relaxed, which you seem to be I know its tempting to feel you can fill coops and runs when they aren't at maximum occupancy, but remember you don't have to do this just because you can! Perhaps wait for illness, downturn in egg laying, an overwhelming urge to acquire a certain breed or hybrid, or a breeding plan to strike - then you will have more of a reason to make some additions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Things sound really relaxed and nice so I'd be tempted not to rock the boat. Having rocked the boat last autumn and now happily back to 9 happy chooks I know how tempting it is to get more but I also know how the fun can go out of things if you are all stressed and frazzled. It is sometimes just nice to enjoy the chooks you have. However if you do decide to go get some more I think I'd go for breeds rather than hybrids so that they are easier to give to others / sell on, should things not all go to plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christyrose12 Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 I started off with 7 hens which I took on from my neighbour when she moved. This was just over 4 years ago. I loved keeping chickens and over the next couple of years or so I gradually increased my flock to 17. I took in ex batts and a few posh girls. I got the biggest chicken house I could afford. It took up to 24 chickens and this was all in my back garden. I love gardening as well as my girls and my garden started to look very war torn but I hated shuting them in their pen. Their house was so hard to keep clean and I finally got to spring last year and realised I was just so exhausted from looking after them all. I had a lovely friend with some land who agreed to take them on. I got home from dropping them off and the garden was so quiet. It was so awful. After about 6 months I bought a cube and 2 orpingtons and a buff sussex. The cube is so easy to keep clean. A couple of weeks ago i got 2 ex batts but that is it. If you are happy with what you have then just enjoy your girls. I do suffer from CFS so have to watch my health but I do agree with Shabby Chic. Take your time, theres no rush. It is so tempting to get more - I know, I have been there. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenflaps Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 I'd go the other way, and say why not get a few more? I do think it's sometimes too easy to worry about new chickens not mixing with established ones, but in reality I think they sort themselves out pretty quickly. I had three ex-bats in a classic eglu (our first venture into owning chickens) and after a couple of years, we lost two in quick succession. We then bought a POL chicken from a farm to keep the sole survivor company while we planned a walk in run. The older chicken gave the younger one the run around for a day or so, but they very quickly became buddies and are fine now. We will soon add two more to the existing two. If I had your setup, with a decent WIR and Cube, I'd look to add a couple at a time until the Cube is a bit more full. I seem to recall that only four birds in a cube can leave them rattling around inside and they can, ironically, be chillier at night than they would be in a Classic. There's plenty on this site with regards to folks finding that with two eglus and a large WIR, their chickens would all pack into one eglu and leave the second one empty... Give it a go. You're obviously experienced and I'm sure your new birds will settle in shortly, even more so if they have several hours together with watching over them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Do tell us what you decide, won't you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millymollymandy Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 Thanks for the advice I think I am going to stick with my four at the mo. maybe when the weather is a bit better I may add some more if any take my fancy but I think for now I am just going to enjoy the peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Sounds like a stress free plan!!! Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
