pecking order

[mimi and the girls]

We are starting over this year. We plan to get orpingtons or americana. Will they do ok if we just get 2 or is it true that you must have 3 for health and happy egg laying due to pecking order behaviors?

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

We are starting over this year. We plan to get orpingtons or americana. Will they do ok if we just get 2 or is it true that you must have 3 for health and happy egg laying due to pecking order behaviors?

It would be best to get three, not so much because of the pecking order, but because if something happens to one you’ll still have two and you won’t have to worry about one of them being lonely while you look for one to take its place. And they’ll keep each other company.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community!
I agree, 3 is a great starting number. Safety in numbers!

 

[Melissacoop]

I started with 2 RI Reds and 2 EE. One EE turned out to be a roo so sent him to live on a farm. They are about 9 months old now. I’ve had them since about 5 days old. They roam free in the backyard all day and we lock them up at night. The coop is huge. Plenty room for everybody. They are all very social and friendly. The past few months I noticed the one RR really bullying the lone EE. She is always by herself and it makes me feel bad for her since the two RR are always together. The leader RR will chase her away when I give snacks and I see her chase her away anytime she thinks the EE has something she wants.
Should I do anything or let them just be birds?
I don’t know if it has anything to do with the EE going broody either?

 

[50-45-1]

I would also say get three, but it depends on how much space you have and the room you have avaliable.
Overcrouding accounts for a high percent of the problems we see here.

 

[Melissacoop]

I started with four. Now have three. I wonder if I got a new baby if the chick would bond with the loner, especially since she was just broody??