jilly Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 Hi, need help quick !! Hope someone is lurking and can help me !! I am going to pick up my hens tomorrow and picked them last week from the breeder just before we went away on holiday, who kindly said she would keep them for us till we got back. For some reason I was set on getting 4 hens but when we went to pick we fell in love (as you do) with a sussex rock that we had not planned on having. The breeder was not at all pushy for us to have it. It was us. I did ask her whether 5 would be better than 4, in terms of getting along better and she said that they are better in odd numbers but it was up to us. We went away all excited about getting our hens but whilst we were away for some reason I have become worried about getting 5. Just hope I havn't bitten off more than I can chew coz this is all new to us and we have never kept hens before, Anyone out there think we are better getting 4 or 5 ? Or should we drop to 3 ? OMG I am hopeless at making decisions. We have a green CUBE to house them in with the extra run extension so space isn't really a problem. Just me getting cold feet. Would really appreciate any advice Thanks Jilly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 Should all be fine. Don't get 5, get 6! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 I'd get the extra hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 I personally didnt find it any different! but personally id get 6 too lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 How exciting, Jilly! Definitely 5 minimum, you'll definitely wish you had more if you don't. 5 sounds good, no need to be nervous, you have a wonderful day ahead. Make sure you pop back & give us all the details. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Our cube arrived yesterday - we have 7 chooks in it and we are totally new to this! But hey if you've planned on 4 whats one more! Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 It's no harder work for you to look after one, two or five more! Go for it, our 6 girls arrived last week and they're no trouble at all. The only problem you'll have is thinking of an extra name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little Red Hen Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 I'd say go for it and get 5. I have an eglu and debated whether to get 2 or 3 chooks and thought I'd stick to 2 as I too was a beginner. I'm really regretting that I didn't get 3 and am considering getting a 3rd chook although now of course it will be much more difficult to introduce a new hen. If you've got the cube then they'll be plenty of space. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 I think 5 or 6 Just a thought Little Red Hen, you could always get 2 more then they could go round in pairs karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Hi there, enjoy getting your hens. We got 5 to start with in a cube then after a week were so smitten we went out and got two more! So now we have 7! You'll easily fit 5 into the cube with loads of room to spare. 4 might even rattle around in there! It's a lot easier looking after them than you think, I worried that I'd bitten off more than I could chew as well, that's because you care which means you'll make a great chicken mum, but once we had them it became second nature within days. Go for it, if your breeder is nice she'll almost certainly take one back if you couldn't manager her, but I'm sure you will. And don't forget - PICTURES PLEASE! Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Go for as many as you can. It saves going back a month later when you are totally besotted, for extras.....and you know you will! If you get them all at once it will save the anxiety of blending new additions in with an established flock. There might be a few minor skirmishes if you get them all at once, but it is less likely to be difficult that way. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jilly Posted August 21, 2007 Author Share Posted August 21, 2007 thanks sooo much for all your advice everyone !! It's really helped. Was just about to ring breeder and tell her we only want 4 but think I will now stick to 5 ?! Bit scared but will let you all know how we get on. Not sure how to put piccies on yet but when I suss it all out I will. Thanks loads !! Jilly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 I'd get 6...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Not sure how to put piccies on yet but when I suss it all out I will. Jilly You need a ...photobucket ... account. They are free and user friendly. You upload the pictures to your account, copy the code they give you and paste it into a reply thingy. Dead easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 I'd get 6 too. I started off with 4 in a cube, and very soon wished I'd gone for more. Everyone seems to feel the same and I've never heard of anyone wishing they'd got fewer chooks, and if you get them all together then you won't have to go through the agony of introducing new girls. Go for it and enjoy it - chooks are wonderful! PS which breeder are you getting your girls from? I am looking for some more chooks and I'm not far away from you, so would be interested in the details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 I'd definately get as many as you can, you won't regret it. i was new to hen keeping in June and started with three hens. "Ooops, word censored!"ody told me how addictive they are so we now have two little additions to our girls. 5 is a lovely number but I'd still like a Daisybelle . . . . and a Sussex . . . and a white leghorn . . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henypenny Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Definably get five if not six! I was in exactly the same position just last week, we took delivery of a gorgeous red cube and headed on down to Creag Mhor poultry with firm plans just to get four chooks however I just fell in love with a pair of white leg horn's as well as the warrens and red star's and ended up comming away with six!!! Im so pleased I did, there is plenty of room in the cube with the extension, four would have looked lost, they all get on so well and I don't need to worry about introducing any further chooks and upsetting the pecking order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 as a chicken virgin, I got 4 (in an eglu, but freerange all day). now I'm completely besotted, I want more and more and more!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 You can't have too many chickens - and can soon find neighbours and family who would love any excess eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutechicky Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 I would think 5 would be fine! Apparantly it is meant to be a great number to start with! As long as you have the space and enjoy having chickens then you will be fine! GO FOR IT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
