School me on adding to my flock (we have two and want more)

[Wizbop]

Just lost one due to sour crop. We're heart broken. It has been recommended by some not to get a hen, but to start w/ a chick. It seems cruel to get one, but I don't know that my coop can accomodate two. We raised our three since they were 10 days old. I have a friend that will raise one for me until it no longer needs the brooder lamp (mine's on loan now). Can I only get one chick? I mean, won't it get lonely? And, how do you think RIR girls will do with it? They just lost one of their "sisters". The one I'm thinking about getting is only four weeks old now and is a Brahma. School me, peeps.

 

[schellie69]

I would never put just one hen into a flock again. I did this once it was not a nice thing. I understand you have a small coop/pen could you get one standard hen and one bantam then introduce them after their quarantine time a bantam does not take up as much room. This way one does not get pecked on to much. I hope someone with a smaller flock post some ideas soon.

 

[Quirky]

I'm very new to all this, so I don't have seasoned advice. My reading indicates that the previous poster is on the right track. I'm very sorry you lost one of your "ladies," though.

 

[Celtic Chick]

I do not advise getting a bantam to put in with standards. She will be abused incessantly. Trust me on this one, please.
I do not know if I would recommend adding just one hen to an already existing flock either, even if the flock is only 2 hens. They will gang up and beat up on her. I definitely would not raise just one chick. She will look to you constantly for companionship, and for sure will not want to integrate into the flock. She will associate you as a companion and be alienated by your hens .
I am leaning toward staying with your 2 hens, I'm afraid. If you have a lot of time, you could try integrating an adult hen into your flock, but that could take weeks and will involve keeping them in separate fenced areas but within sight of each other.
There are so many people on this site who will give you many great suggestions on how to accomplish adding to your flock. This is just my 2 cents.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

If you only have 2 then it shouldn't be hard to integrate another full size hen into your flock. You will need to put her in at night after all hens have gone to sleep. You will then need to spray everyone the two hens you already own and the new one with vinegar water mixture. Chickens are real smell oriented so the vinegar will hide that she is from a different flock.

There is ALWAYS a time when chickens fight for dominance but they will consider this just normal flock stuff and will unlikely see the new girl as an addition. I have added chickens to my flock for years and if I play by the night rules as well as the vinegar rules, I have never had a problem.

Dave

 

[jason_mazzy]

try shook pultry. they are in claremont. worth the drive for an 18 week old pullet for $6

 

[bburn]

...and I could be wrong but I did not think that chickens had much of a sense of smell...will have to go look that up...

I intergrated earlier this year and it takes some time and patience. First there is the quarantine. Then they need to 'see' each other for a while first...then maybe a little free range time for short periods for a few days....then put the new ones in at night on the roost. There will still be pecking order because there just is. But I would not put just one. They need buddies.

 

[cobrien]

I think a bantam fitting in depends more on the individual chicken and to some extent their breed as opposed to bantam/regular size. My full sized Cochin and Polish get picked on a lot than my bantam, (I think she was OEG) she was as tough as nails, completely fended for herself, and was faster than the others if they bothered to try messing with her. Before adding her to the rest I posted here as I was concerned and everyone told me to go for it. It worked. The problem I had with the bantie is that she was so good at flying and could go over 6' tall fences into neighbors' yards. So I prefer large breeds for the city.

If I were in your shoes I'd expand the coop to accommodate 4 as this situation will arise for you again in all likelihood. Or, I would stick with 2, or research some bantie breeds that might do well, unless I'm in the minority here and had an exception (I don't think so given how many replies I got saying my bantie would be fine). I have never added just one but think it would be a bad scene.

 

[schellie69]

I have bantams and standard and they all get along fine, I just thought a bantam would help. I don't think chickens use much smell I would make sure that any birds you bring in be quarantined for 30 days at least. You could just stick with the 2 you have or maybe build a small coop to add another 2 hens to might be another option. Good luck and I hope you find a solution that works for you.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

Ok, the researcher in me can't just leave this unsaid. Sorry, please don't think I'm being snotty.

In recent research, it has been proven that chickens have an acute sense of smell and that use of smell helps them operate in their social, and food collection lives. Here are a couple articles I was able to quickly pull off the internet to prove my point.


Birds have a good sense of Smell... Science Daily
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080716111421.htm

How research into the Genome of the Chicken helps us understand the human genome.

Chickens have an acute sense of smell Medical News today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/17563.php

I have used my vinegar/water method to great success on a number of occasions.

Dave