From 3 to 2 hens - Enough company?

[Cl2Abbeyrd]

I have 3 little EE hens. First year with chickens and loving it!

We’re almost through winter and I have my first issue. I have 1 bully who likes to feather pick the one that I thought was the boss. I have a saddle and blu-kote on the one getting picked, and going to try making up some homemade flock blocks as they could be a bit bored with wi winter.

Next, I’ll remove the bully and bring her back a couple days later. If all fails and I get rid of the bully, I would only have my 2 girls. Will they be okay as a pair? We aren’t in a position to go bigger right now.

Here are some pics of my coop. We got it as a starter - it’s been holding up great with modifications. They get to come out 3 days a week when it’s nicer out for a few hours to peck and play.

Is this coop too small for 3 medium size hens? The dimensions are 6.5'x4.5'x5', which could be bigger, but seemed sufficient with free range time.

Or do I just have a bully on my hands?

Thanks!

 

[AlleysChicks]

Does she eat the feathers when she picks them? You may need a higher protein food. As for the coop/run it’s small for 3 bigger birds. They need 10sq feet each in the run and I believe should have 4sq feet each in the coop. Prefab coops are often too small for the amount of birds on the box.

 

[chickens really]

Your Coop is way too small and possibly need a higher protein diet..

 

[Cl2Abbeyrd]

Does she eat the feathers when she picks them? You may need a higher protein food. As for the coop/run it’s small for 3 bigger birds. They need 10sq feet each in the run and I believe should have 4sq feet each in the coop. Prefab coops are often too small for the amount of birds on the box.

I haven’t been noticing the feathers laying around, so maybe they are eating them. I feed them Nutrena layer pellets and they were good all summer and fall, but I can switch them to feather fixer for a month and see if that helps. They also get dried mealworm and boss for treats. Sometimes scrambled egg. Trying to also give them more veggie scraps.

They seemed to all be pretty happy in the coop for 6 months, but once they all started laying, I noticed this problem with the 2 bullying the one. If I can stop the problem until spring, I could extend their run another 5 feet long by 2 feet wide easily enough. That about the biggest I could go, though.

Maybe I should start preparing early to drop down to 2 hen friends...sad. At least until this coop falls apart and I can get a bigger one...

 

[Cl2Abbeyrd]

Your Coop is way too small and possibly need a higher protein diet..

I will try some feather fixer - on nutrena layer pellet now. Do you think 2 would be okay in that size coop?

 

[AlleysChicks]

I haven’t been noticing the feathers laying around, so maybe they are eating them. I feed them Nutrena layer pellets and they were good all summer and fall, but I can switch them to feather fixer for a month and see if that helps. They also get dried mealworm and boss for treats. Sometimes scrambled egg. Trying to also give them more veggie scraps.

They seemed to all be pretty happy in the coop for 6 months, but once they all started laying, I noticed this problem with the 2 bullying the one. If I can stop the problem until spring, I could extend their run another 5 feet long by 2 feet wide easily enough. That about the biggest I could go, though.

Maybe I should start preparing early to drop down to 2 hen friends...sad. At least until this coop falls apart and I can get a bigger one...

Try a non medicated chick starter, those are usually like 20% protein. Or a all flock feed. Look at protein % on bag, you want something 18-20% & Offer oyster shell on the side.

As for the run, go ahead and enlarge it. You said you free range them outside the pen on nice days? That will help come spring but you gotta think about the cold rainy days when they’re stuck in the coop/run. I wouldn’t start worrying about rehoming until after you have a bigger run. Then see how they do.

 

[Cl2Abbeyrd]

Try a non medicated chick starter, those are usually like 20% protein. Or a all flock feed. Look at protein % on bag, you want something 18-20% & Offer oyster shell on the side.

As for the run, go ahead and enlarge it. You said you free range them outside the pen on nice days? That will help come spring but you gotta think about the cold rainy days when they’re stuck in the coop/run. I wouldn’t start worrying about rehoming until after you have a bigger run. Then see how they do.

Thanks for the tips! Yes, when it’s dry on the ground, they play outside the run half the time. I do mix oyster shells in their food, but will try the all flock instead. Can they still lay eggs while on all flock? Iceberg lettuce was on sale for .89, so I picked up a couple of those to feed them this week. I’ll try hanging it! Thanks again

 

[AlleysChicks]

Thanks for the tips! Yes, when it’s dry on the ground, they play outside the run half the time. I do mix oyster shells in their food, but will try the all flock instead. Can they still lay eggs while on all flock? Iceberg lettuce was on sale for .89, so I picked up a couple of those to feed them this week. I’ll try hanging it! Thanks again

yep they will still lay eggs My layers are on all flock pellets and my banties eat chick starter crumbles. I toss a handful of oyster shell on the ground in each pen, gives them something to run around and get. I’ve never used layer feed but the protein level could be too low for what your bird breeds need.

 

[lazy gardener]

Please don't put oyster shell IN their food. It should be offered free choice. You could even give them a small hand full of kitty kibble to up their protein. Kitty kibble has animal protein in it.

 

[lazy gardener]

Giving them lettuce is actually counter to what their nutritional needs are. (IMO) Very little nutrition in it. They are better off with some sprouted grains, or some weeds/grass from your yard. It looks like you have bare ground there now???