Do CHICKS NEED COMPANIONS?

[orpingtonbabies]

Feed stores have a 6-chick minimum for profit, not because you can't have less than 6 chickens. Still, they definitely do need at least one companion. I'd say you could keep as little as 2 or 3 and they'd be fine.

 

[LillyCoop]

I am so confused.

Been told by an older farmer that chicks won't survive if they're alone? Then the stores insist that you buy 6 or more??

I love them, so the more, the merrier!

My 5 year old free/ range hen has always had a companion; either another hen or rooster. Recently she was alone and I noticed she seemed depressed. She stayed under the hedges all day and didn’t roam around. Well I bought her two companions and she is quite active again. She even has begun to lay eggs again, which is something she stopped doing about 9 months ago! So, my opinion is that yes, they definitely need socialization and companion/s.