I lost a couple bird last week and am now down to single 4 year old hen. She does not seem to miss her sisters, but I think she should have some company. We dont eat as many eggs as we use to so I would like to just add two more hens. I seen other posts that lead me to believe it might be better to add one first then add two more latter once things get things situated. I am hoping to find rescue birds, so I dont if I will be able to do the two step approach.
If I go the 1 then 2 approach would I still need to go the quarantine route when I add the first bird? Not too worried about loosing the flock to disease with a flock of 1, but I am worried about them fighting. I really dont want to build an isolation cage, but would probably need one any way if I do add two more later.
My existing bird is a Delaware,but I am thinking about switching to egg layers as it is unlikely we will ever eat them. As she is a pretty big chicken any thoughts about just adding two younger (but already laying) egg layer type chickens straight away? Assuming I add a pair of already familiar birds would they gang up on her or would they be too nervous as they are in a new coop?
If I go the 1 then 2 approach would I still need to go the quarantine route when I add the first bird? Not too worried about loosing the flock to disease with a flock of 1, but I am worried about them fighting. I really dont want to build an isolation cage, but would probably need one any way if I do add two more later.
My existing bird is a Delaware,but I am thinking about switching to egg layers as it is unlikely we will ever eat them. As she is a pretty big chicken any thoughts about just adding two younger (but already laying) egg layer type chickens straight away? Assuming I add a pair of already familiar birds would they gang up on her or would they be too nervous as they are in a new coop?
