Chicken died - what to buy next?

[ysb33r]

One of our two chickens died some days ago. We are debating what to do to replace her what are not too sure abou the best options.

• Do we buy two new young ones?
• Or just one new one?

The one that died was a Gingernut, the other is a Pepperpot. The thing now is whether the replacements should be Gingernuts (more inquisitive and child friendly) or Pepperpots (better egg layers).

Any suggestions?

[Birdie Wife]

Hi ysb33r
The usual advice is to always have a minimum of three chickens, that way if one dies, there wont be one left on her own. I would advise you to get two. Then you could get one of each type! I haven't heard of these breeds, is that how they're marketed or is that your names for them?

[cotton54321]

we bought an araucana last year and she lays at least 4 blue eggs a week sometimes 5. She is the friendliest chicken we have. Far friendlier than the hybrids. I agree with buying another 2 if you can afford it - have fun choosing!

Mel

[ysb33r]

Hi Birdie Wife.

They are the breeds you get from Omlet. I have no idea whether they are just marketing names.

I am just wondering what the dynamics will be if two new chickens are introduced. Will the older automatically be the dominant? She was not in the previous setup.

[Birdie Wife]

If you get two new hens from the same flock they will know each other but not the old girl so they might pick on her. If you got two birds from different flocks then none of them would know each other so the original hen would might get more of a boost in the pecking order because the others would take a few days to settle in. It often comes down more to chicken personalities really. Some are just more dominant than others. It's nothing to worry about really, there's bound to be a bit of tension but they'll work it out for themselves. Introductions should be done carefully whatever you decide to do - keep the new hens in a temporary home if you can, but within sight of the original hen so they can all get used to each other and their new home before face-to-face introductions are done. It just helps the process really.

Added bit later: Just googled gingernut ranger and pepperpot, it looks like these are Rhode island red hybrids bred for egg laying with a good temperament for home chicken-keepers, I couldn't find any references to the breed outside of the omlet website so maybe they've coined the phrase, so to speak. Nowt wrong with that, they look like lovely birds btw.

[Squirrel]

I would go along with Birdiewife on this one. Get two new ones, each from a different flock and they will sort themselves out as to who is head honcho.

[yoanbob]

I agree 2 from different flocks would be best, the breeds you have are hybrids of rhode island red (pepper) and morans (Ginger) they are bread by omlet and these are there marketing names, i would look in practical poultry mag for a breeder near you get one from there and another from omlet that way they will both be new and your old girl will stay in charge. i would recomend a warren or other moran hybrid for friendlyness

[ysb33r]

I now managed to get a local meadowsweet agent that will supply me the appropriate breeds I want. Just have to wait about two weeks for the new POLs to arrive. Suits me fine as I still have to get a temporary chicken shelter to introduce the new arrivels to the resident.

[chickenjane]

so glad you've got it sorted & the other hen won't be lonely for too long--plenty of human contact will help I'm sure.

Another v hardy & friendly breed for domestic uses is the black-rock.Quite common up here in the midlands ,but not sure about home counties.It's got RIR ,plymouth rock & don't know what else in.v handsome etc.

too late now but might be worth thinking about for the future--when you increase your flock!

have fun.
?pics of new birds when they arrive?

[ysb33r]

Finally! Can go and collect them on Saturday: One Blackrock and one Bovan Goldline. The kids are quite excited.

As for me ... two days left to build a temporary shelter ...

[Birdie Wife]

How exciting! Good for your one hen to get some company too. I'm picking up some new hens at auction on Saturday hopefully, maybe we can compare picks of the new family additions!

[ysb33r]

They arrived on Saturday morning. - we now have a Bovan Goldline (Madeleine) and a Black Rock (Zorba).

I had the section of the graden when the chickens normally roam, net-fenced into two sections. The newcomers were in one section and the resident hen (Pekkie) in the other. Zorba immediately try to peck her through the net, but one definitive peck from Pekkie sent Zorba scrambling for cover. It did not taker much to sort out the pecking order!

By the end of the day we let them run together. A bit of chasing occurred yesterday & today, but very little pecking. They shared the eglu without a problem as well.

This morningo they were not let out of the eglu run until very late this afternoon. No problems with any pecking.

One thing I did notice (or imagine) is that Pekkie is eating a lot more. It is as if she wants to eat up everything before the others get a chance. (There is ample food for everyone though).

She is also going to bed a lot later than she used to.

[TPeers]

Just trying to show she is boss hen! MY food, MY water.... it's like little kids!

[chickenjane]

Better she goes to bed later than the other thing they sometimes do which is to stand blocking the door so the others can't get in.

[ysb33r]

She likes to sleep in the nesting booth. If any of the others are in there they just get kicked out