Is 3 a crowd?

[MCbur-burk]

Wondering if having 3 hens will cause a long disturbance in the pecking order? I already have two somewhere between 4 and 6 months old that may still be determining their pecking order. Any ideas? And, I'm figuring that once I have 3 hens I will eventually want 4...

 

[ghillie]

Thats chicken math for you. and

 

[BrattishTaz]

Adding to your flock is fine. I would not worry too much about the pecking order, they will work it out. The only thing you have to do is make sure they are not seriously injuring (drawing blood) one another.

Good luck with your integration. You will be able to get lots of advice here if it does not go smoothly.

 

[riverman]

Get more!

There will always be a pecking order and the chickens you have already will usually always pick on new chickens you get for at least a couple days but as long as they have enough space to run around there wont be any serious problems. What kinds do you have right now?

 

[TigerLilly]

Adding to your current flock isn't the problem...stopping is!
I always buy mine in at least pairs, like the buddy system; at least during the whole pecking order thing, the newest ones will have each other.

 

[MCbur-burk]

O what a shame, sounds like a good idea to get two more.
There be one RIR and one light sussex

 

[Chick Charm]

More More More. Adding a couple more will deffinately be entertaining. If you have the space, they will do ok.

 

[momtotnt]

I just did this today after reading a lot on these forums. Just as described, there was pecking. I have a 6 mo old Faverolle, & a Polish, and am trying to introduce a 10wk old RIR (I would have preferred older but couldn't find one). My first 2 were raised together & have zero issues with each other.
As expected, the Polish pecked the new girl right away. I now have her separated in her own section of the run where the original 2 can see her but can't get at her. I figure this will be the set up for the next several weeks.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!

 

[wsdareme]

Three? Four?? Why stop there? You should have at least a dozen!!

 

[mchl]

I take my younger birds and put them in a big cage about 4x4x4 right in the coop with the girls but where they cant get to each other. When they get close to the same size i let the kids out but where the can also get back in away from any meanies and they do great a little pecking but no deaths