Noodle Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Ok, I think I am going slightly barmy . Have read everything on your fabulous forum, even asked a 'foxy' question and rec'd great replies - thank you all . I have ordered my blue eglu and two chooks which are all due to arrive tomorrow and I am SO excited. However, I have had two sleepless nights worrying about whether I should have ordered three chickens? I have a supplier near me and feel I should get a third. If I do this tomorrow and add her in with the other two new chickens, will they all get on? or will I have to do the introducing thingy as two have come from Omlet and one from elsewhere? Are chickens that intelligent Oh yes, and my garden is not that big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Hi, The others on her might well disagree with me here, but in my opinion, if you have a "small" garden, I'd stick with two. I have a large garden (third of an acre) and my girls free range all the time - I have three Omlet girls and I cannot get over how much poo is everywhere! It doesn't worry me that much and I just have my hose at hand to swill it off the patio areas and seating, but I often wonder how people would cope with a small garden and three girls! I'm sure there'll be lots of people on here who have three in a small garden and think it's fine! The main advantage of three is that if you lose one, you still have the two and then if you lose another, you can introduce two together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Hi Noodle, if I were you I would definitely go for three chooks. Is it too late to ring Omlet and ask if you can add another to your order? Chickens are amazingly good at recognising strangers in their midst, and can be very nasty to them, but I would have thought that if you get a 3rd one from your local supplier and put her in the Eglu at the same time as your Omlet girls you may have a chance of avoiding the unpleasantness. After all, the 2 Omlet girls will probably only just have met each other on the journey to your house. As for the size of your garden, I don't think that one extra chicken will make much difference. Good luck, and let us know what you decide. How exciting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodle Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 This is what I keep on thinking Tweety, if anything should happen to one, I will have a very sad, lonely chicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Yep - even with a smallish garden I would still recommend getting at least 3... The more the merrier as chickens are naturally flock birds and it can be difficult to integrate more birds at a later date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robskyd Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I asked exactly the same question when we were deciding what to do!! We went for 3 in the end and really glad we did, though ours do free range quite a lot and only in the run (with extender) until about dinner time. I was told that the standard run is really only suitable for 2 chooks for long periods of time. Sure, there is more poop but that has to be measured against the additional eggs and laughs you'll get. No matter how many you finally decide to get, I'm sure you'll be very happy with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Me too! I ordered two Omlet hens with MY blue eglu and rang up the day before to ask for a 3rd hen. So pleased I did! My garden is small and they wrecked it the first year, but I'm still pleased I had 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 We read a lot on here before placing our order and we got the feeling that three was a good number. We are glad we got three because we lost one of ours quite early on, then introduced two more. Good luck and happy chicken keeping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I wish I'd got three (in fact, I am about to expand to five! but I'm getting a second Eglu too). It avoids the problem of a sad and lonely chicken, should the worst happen, and although you will have more poo, you will also have more eggs! I take Diane's point about the cleaning and so on, maybe it depends a bit on how big your garden is, but I would definitely go for three. If Omlet can't supply a third, then I would get it on the same day if you can, and put them all in together, as Tweety says, the Omlet chickens will probably only just have met. (Do you think they tell each other their life story, during the delivery journey ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 We were only going to get two, then a local poultry place told us we should have three. So we got three and I am so glad we did. Go for three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Seven, eight or nine seem to be about the right number for me right now..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Definitely 3!! They are no more hassle to look after, ok you get a third more poo more BUT you get an extra egg! I lost one of my chooks only 7 weeks after having them. Fortunately I have 5 others but I couldn't imagine the hassle of introducing another chook after 7 weeks to an established one. Phone Omlet they'll just add another to your order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodle Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 Ok, so most of you rekon three or more then!!! Ha ha I phoned up the lady at Southmead Poultry and had a chat with her. She was so lovely and helpful. She also recommended three chickens, as she said, if I got two and anything were to happen to one of them I would have a problem getting another in the winter So, blue eglu and two chooks arriving tomorrow, and then pick up a third from her on Saturday (she said they would be fine mixing as they would all still be fairly stressed from the journey/new home etc.) Goodness, this is taking up soooo much of my time and they are not even here yet. Anyway, garden ready, hemcore ready, family nearly ready (teenage girls think world has ended and this is all very uncool but I am sure they will change their minds). Wish me luck tomorrow Hee Hee Such a big kid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 All the best Noodle, you will love them! Sorry, didn't get round to posting earlier and saying welcome! 3 is the right choice!!! I ordered 2 from Omlet and changed my mind the day before (and eglu colour , twice ) I'm sure the gilrs will get along fine, but if not, there are several 'stickies' giving good advice on introducing new hens. Have a lovely weekend and don't forget pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Congratulations Noodle. Definitely three I'd say, for all the reasons already stated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 OK, I give in - I agree, three is best!!! I wouldn't be without my three I have to say, and if you're keeping them on hemcore then they'll be fine as you'll be able to muck them out - mine are in their eglu on the grass and are out for about 12 hours a day and spread their mess (although I now refer to it as natural fertiliser) everywhere! It doesn't bother me any longer but all my family like to moan about it whenever they visit as if treading on it will cause their leg to fall off or something! They keep saying they should be penned into an area at the bottom of the garden - I said that if they feel that way about it I'll get them a tent and they are most welcome to do so, but the chickens might disturb them!! I was only making the point that if you are worried about your garden/poo everywhere then the extra poo might be a problem. The extra eggs will make all the difference! Only one of mine has started laying (the best eggs in the world, naturally!) and I can't wait for Nina and Jenny to start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 I phoned up the lady at Southmead Poultry and had a chat with her. She was so lovely and helpful. She also recommended three chickens, as she said, if I got two and anything were to happen to one of them I would have a problem getting another in the winter So, blue eglu and two chooks arriving tomorrow, and then pick up a third from her on Saturday (she said they would be fine mixing as they would all still be fairly stressed from the journey/new home etc.) family nearly ready (teenage girls think world has ended and this is all very uncool but I am sure they will change their minds). Southmead is lovely - you'll want to take more than one! Regarding teenagers - when I got my eglu and first chickens I had one daughter who thought it was totally embarrassing. She told me not to tell anyone and hoped that it would all come in an unmarked vehicle - have you seen the Omlet van? Well, when I got the date, much to my amusement she had an INSET day and was at home. (She didn't think it funny!) The hens arrived and it was this daughter who cuddled them and clipped their wings etc. She is my deputy chicken carer now and adores them! The chickens will win your teenagers over! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 teenage girls think world has ended and this is all very uncool but I am sure they will change their minds). Wish me luck tomorrow Hee Hee Such a big kid It was a bit similar here my eldest couldn't work out why I wanted chickens for my Birthday now 2 years later I have 12, and my eldest came home from school last week, telling me someone in his form has an eglu with 2 chooks his comment was, "How cool is that?" The children also race out to see them when they come home from school, and take all there friends out to see them Enjoy your girls, karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 I wish I had but my GNR came as a package with the second hand I bought. As they were already established as a matching pair I though it best to leave them as they are (for now!) We get through a fair few eggs as I bake quite a lot as Xmas gifts, for school and church events, plus the kids love dippy eggs at least twice a week, so despite the girls providing us with around 10 a week I still buy some for baking. I'll just have to go out and get myself . I think OH may hit the roof though, he's already threatening to eat them for Xmas dinner. I loved Cinnamon's comment on another thread the other day "Its just a shame you can't pull them out of the washing machine & pretend you have had them for ages!" DD loves the chickens and goes out to see them as soon as she gets back from nursery - she's not a teenager though!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodle Posted October 12, 2007 Author Share Posted October 12, 2007 They are soooo lovely. I was a little worried that I have wanted chickens for so many years that when they finally arrived, I might not like them Several of my daughters friends came over to see them last night - they are funny - some of them just stood at the back door looking out, others thought it was brill!!! Its my daughters 14th birthday today and she is having a sleepover. She still thinks its very uncool but guess who was the one (I have four daughters) helping me put them to bed lat night Can't get anything done at work today - just want to go home and have another afternoon in the garden chatting with the chooks!!! What am I like???!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysia Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 They do take over your life noodle but it is all worht it when you get that 1st egg! We started with 3 went up to 6 down to 5 and now have a cube coming to help house the 13 chicks we have! You never get bored of chickens they are fab! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...