Can I add one more girl?

[PatchyPauline]

I currently have 2 girls who are cross rhode island red & light sussex (I think)
I have had them since last October when they were point of lay and they live in a walk-in covered run about 3 metres x 2 metres with a raised eglu house in the run. They are really happy and laying every day.

I have been offered a 7 month old sussex white whose companions have been taken by a fox - could I integrate one lone chook?

Thanks

[Nicos]

Well- it's not a lot of space- but it's bigger than the minimum required- so I'd go for it.

If anything happened to one of yours , you'd be in the same sistuation- 3 is an ideal number.
I'd say yes...and watch the feathers fly!

[Suechooks]

The new one is going to be picked on for sure as the others are established and also she's much younger and vulnerable.
You need to be very careful introducing them in such a small space. I'd think very carefully before taking this little one on.

[Glutton4...]

If you decide to go ahead. Try the old trick of spraying them with diluted Vinegar, so they all smell the same. Don't introduce her during the day, but wait until dusk when they're all going in to roost.

I expect you'll have fights for a few days, so make sure you have some purple spray handy in case of any wounds, and try to leave them to sort themselves out (under your supervision), even though it's natural to want to separate them when they fight.

Good luck!

[di]

If she looks a lot different...which by the sounds of it she does...then I'd think carefully.
We've found that they really do mix like with like and if a hen of a different colour is introduced it gets picked on a lot more than one than blends in slightly.
Sorry.that's probably not the answer you wanted...and I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination,so ignore me if you wish...but I can't see itbeing easy for you or the new chook

[vegaholic]

It's not impossible, we added a lone Welsummer to an existing flock of four mixed breeds with no real problem, but she was a fairly large bird and able to stand up for herself a bit during the first few days. In your case, I'd be a bit cautious with her being that much younger than the others. As Glutton4.. says it helps to do the introduction at night - wait until they've gone to roost then open the henhouse door and stick her on a perch. I think you might get a few fights though!

[PatchyPauline]

Thank you so much for all your comments - I seriously think I might have second thoughts about upsetting the balance although what I will do when something happens to one of mine I don't know!

Thank you again - I knew asking you all was the best idea!

Pauline

[RichmondHens]

I would try it and see what happens, although I have to say the only seriously aggressive hens I have ever had have been Rhodies, and my current bossiest hen is a Rhodie/Sussex cross! If you can give them some bigger run space it would help. Is it an eglu cube you have? A friend of mine has one, bought for only 3 chooks, but found the run too small for 3. She lets hers out to free range during the day and they just get shut into the run at night.

[Nicos]

If it's the bullying you're worried about- why not just give it a try for a couple of days- or even just one day- and see what happens- some gals are less agressive than others.....just on the understanding she'll be taken back if you're not happy with how it's working out
At least then you'll have tried to help out