Single Chicken

[waywind]

Hi all,

I've currently got two pet Buff Orphington chickens, turning 1 year old a few months back. I have a pretty decent chicken run that they roam around in and I let them out to free range my back yard when I'm home (so every afternoon and weekends). They are great little girls, as they tend to get a bit lonely when the other is nesting/brooding jail. Currently thinking to get another docile like breed (but less broody), either an Australop or a Barred Rock.

I'm slightly torn at the moment as ideally I would like to have 3 chickens in total; I'm confident that I have enough space in the coop, run and garden to service both 3 or 4 additional chickens. But I'm also considering the general upkeep of having 4 (increased poop, noise, health etc.), as my wife and I are trying to a non-feathered baby this year too.

Would it be too selfish to just get one more chicken by itself, probably around the pullet stage? I know the general rule is to get them in pairs for the company and also to prevent bullying of single chickens.

Attached is my favorite photo of my girls

 

[jlchick]

Hi all,

I've currently got two pet Buff Orphington chickens, turning 1 year old a few months back. I have a pretty decent chicken run that they roam around in and I let them out to free range my back yard when I'm home (so every afternoon and weekends). They are great little girls, as they tend to get a bit lonely when the other is nesting/brooding jail. Currently thinking to get another docile like breed (but less broody), either an Australop or a Barred Rock.

I'm slightly torn at the moment as ideally I would like to have 3 chickens in total; I'm confident that I have enough space in the coop, run and garden to service both 3 or 4 additional chickens. But I'm also considering the general upkeep of having 4 (increased poop, noise, health etc.), as my wife and I are trying to a non-feathered baby this year too.

Would it be too selfish to just get one more chicken by itself, probably around the pullet stage? I know the general rule is to get them in pairs for the company and also to prevent bullying of single chickens.

Attached is my favorite photo of my girls
View attachment 2246112

 

[dai2dao996]

Hi all,

I've currently got two pet Buff Orphington chickens, turning 1 year old a few months back. I have a pretty decent chicken run that they roam around in and I let them out to free range my back yard when I'm home (so every afternoon and weekends). They are great little girls, as they tend to get a bit lonely when the other is nesting/brooding jail. Currently thinking to get another docile like breed (but less broody), either an Australop or a Barred Rock.

I'm slightly torn at the moment as ideally I would like to have 3 chickens in total; I'm confident that I have enough space in the coop, run and garden to service both 3 or 4 additional chickens. But I'm also considering the general upkeep of having 4 (increased poop, noise, health etc.), as my wife and I are trying to a non-feathered baby this year too.

Would it be too selfish to just get one more chicken by itself, probably around the pullet stage? I know the general rule is to get them in pairs for the company and also to prevent bullying of single chickens.

Attached is my favorite photo of my girls
View attachment 2246112

Beautiful girls! I don't think you'll notice much difference in upkeep for one more. I don't know about Australop, but my Barred Rocks are great birds. Very easy going. I originally wanted 3 chickens and wound up with 5. They are about 9 months old. I have 3 new chicks coming soon. Bullying of new additions is something I haven't delt with yet, but I'm pretty sure with some good watching and treat giving, they'll get used to the new addition fine.

 

[jlchick]

Honestly I would get two if at all possible. My two additions to the flock still stick together even after well over a month of joining the flock. They still get chased a bit but at least they have each other.

 

[centrarchid]

I keep a lot of chickens as singles, mostly roosters, but also a small number of hens. They handle that part well. Periodically I reshuffle the hens which usually means some modest conflicts. Combining where newcomer(s) are immature can be made easier by confining the new bird vary close to the older birds for a few days so they get used to each other. Then release so they can solidify pecking order.

 

[waywind]

Thanks for your replies.

@dai2dao996 I just look out in my garden at all the poo they generate when they free range and imagining it x2 just makes me cringe a little bit haha. x1.5 just seems more manageable to me.
@jlchick makes sense, I was just thinking that because my flock is so small, it might be easier to blend in one more chicken.
@centrarchid your method sounds great; I was planning to do something similar as I would quarantine newcomers in the garage within the broody cage anyway, so would just transition them over into the run like that as well.

Is it mostly getting birds of the same age that helps? I was thinking of getting different breeds if I were to get two, so they wouldn't be part of the same hatching group anyway. Will they still bond as they mature into adults?

 

[centrarchid]

Thanks for your replies.

@dai2dao996 I just look out in my garden at all the poo they generate when they free range and imagining it x2 just makes me cringe a little bit haha. x1.5 just seems more manageable to me.
@jlchick makes sense, I was just thinking that because my flock is so small, it might be easier to blend in one more chicken.
@centrarchid your method sounds great; I was planning to do something similar as I would quarantine newcomers in the garage within the broody cage anyway, so would just transition them over into the run like that as well.

Is it mostly getting birds of the same age that helps? I was thinking of getting different breeds if I were to get two, so they wouldn't be part of the same hatching group anyway. Will they still bond as they mature into adults?

You can combine almost any age combination. I change approach based on age disparity. Where possible, older is added on top of younger. Older may also be added singly so older birds establish a pecking order that will be enforced on subsequent older birds that might otherwise continue harassment of younger birds.

Group of 3 I combined yesterday had all introduced in a pen what not home base for anyone.