Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Janet G]

I have 5 hens already, 4 large breeds & a hybrid. I'm thinking of getting 2 Buff Orpingtons but have a couple of reservations:

I've read that that can't manage a ladder up to a house, that they can be bullied as they are so placid & they go broody very easily.

Are they likely to be phased by the Cube ladder, is the cube big enough for them & is introducing 2 into an existing flock of 5 asking for trouble? We've had 4 of our hens for some time & they are all placid. The 5th we've only had a few days so I can't say, we were trying to introduce 3 but 2 are going back (that's another story), & we may exchange them for the Orpingtons.

Many thanks for any help.

Janet

[Patricia W]

I have a friend who has a Buff Orpington in a cube and she is fine. You won't get many in though!

[Redwing]

The space should be ok provided the run is big enough

 

The laddershould be ok but add something at the bottom like a breezeblock, flower pot etc to make the drop less high as this is what will cause problems

 

I would never recommend that new birds are added straight in with existing ones but if you decide to do that get mature birds not youngsters and keep an eye on things

[MillyJude]

One of our hens is a buff orpington and we have a cube, we put some trellis with wire attached on top of the ladder and she is fine.

 

She has never gone broody and doesnt seem to get bullied, she is just a massive yellow puffball

 

I would say your 5 plus two orps would be fine in a cube for roosting, but depends how much room you have for them during the day?