Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 I was planning on getting 2 hens but I'm wondering if 3 is a better idea? Does anyone have advice on whether it's worth getting 3 - is it only an advantage if you lose one (we do have foxes) and can therefore avoid having to introduce a new one? Are there any other advantages? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 3 definitely get 3 then if you unfortunately lose one (like I have recently ) you still have the pair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 I agree. 3. (If your garden can take it go for three - you will get more poop though). I ordered 4 and lost one within 2 weeks (don't know why she died - just happened). I could have kept with the 3 but Omlet said they would refund or replace her as I'd only had her a while. So I decided to get another and am now back to 4 chooks. I think the "spare" is a good idea. Saves introducing a new girl and extra eggs too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 12 is a better number..................... No, seriously - 3 is better than 2, if you do, unfortunately loose one then the other two have each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 We had this debate last month.....first it was 2.....then maybe 3 just incase one sudenly dies.....then it was a cube instead of an eglu.....then how about 4.......maybe 6........yes definalty 6 is fine......4 weeks later.......awwwww, those 2 chickens are sooooo cute, we have to have them.........and so we ended up with 8 and are now extending to run, you know, to give them more room ........definatly not for any more! have fun! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Definitely three - everyone on here will say so. 1) three chickens are no more work than two 2) you will have 50% more eggs 3) you will have 50% more fun 4) If one dies (and it might not be the fox) you won't have a lone chicken you will also have 50% more poo, but don't worry about that just now I wish I'd had three to start with ... I'm going to have five quite soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 just to be controversial.... we had this same problem as we didn't have enough money to get a run extension and as we work all day every day were worried 3 may be too cramped in the standard eglu run as we would only be able to let them out supervised for an hour or so in the evenings and weekends if we aren't working. We got 2 in the end and are very glad we did - I agree that 3 would be no harder to look after and if we were around more and able to let them out more to freerange we'd have got 3 but our 2 are best of friends and always go round as a pair, don't regret just getting 2, it worked best for us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 7, 2007 Author Share Posted September 7, 2007 Thanks for all your advice. I think we've settled on three (husband was quite amenable, surprisingly). I only work 3 days and am back at 4pm each day so hope to let them free range for a while every day - hopefully that'll make up for lack of space in the run. Only problem now is names. We'd settled on Maisie and Nessie (so they know they're Scottish!) but can't think of a third suitable name. (Why is it so important to give them names when they are completely oblivious?! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 three Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Only problem now is names. We'd settled on Maisie and Nessie (so they know they're Scottish!) but can't think of a third suitable name. how about Bonnie after "bonny scotland" ??! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Gal Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 We've tried to work it out logically and have decided that we will get 3 girls. Then when one does die (sob) we shall replace her with 2 girls, then when one dies we will be back to 3. Again then back to 4 with 2 new girls when one passes. This is mainly because when we introduce a new bird we do not want to introduce them solo but preferably as a friend pair. So that's our plan at present. But we expect our first 3 girls to go on for years and years and years and years and years and years......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 7, 2007 Author Share Posted September 7, 2007 Thanks everyone! 3 it is! Bonnie was considered (good idea!) - but I think I'm going down the alliterative route of Millie, Molly & Maisie - will need to run it past the kids/hubbie (who don't really seem to give a d**m - quote "I'm never going to remember which is which" - WHAT!!? Would you get your kids' names mixed up - erm, well, yes and the dog/kids sometimes ..... ! ) I've posted another dilemma now that this one's solved - can you help with that one too please?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueSteve Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 We had this debate last month.....first it was 2.....then maybe 3 just incase one sudenly dies.....then it was a cube instead of an eglu.....then how about 4 Exactly what happened to us! We have now ordered 4 + cube! I did have a few doubts, but you guys helped me out with that one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
