My Chicken family is down to 2 girls (4-5years) is it okay to just keep 2 chickens?

[ChickenChimp]

Hi Fellow BYC Clan!
I have had the same girls for 4 year, started off with 6 (Bantams), but now we are down to 2 . I am in two minds to get more chickens and am hoping you guys can aid in my decision
1. Would they be okay as just a pair or do they need to be in a larger group? (for social health reasons)
2. Seeing as they are older girls would they accept younger chickens into their group, I am worried they might bully them?

I welcome your thoughts

 

[cleoandtheflock]

I have had 2 chickens at some time or another because of predator attacks. I have them for a little while but the whole time I try to find more chickens for the flock. And if you integrate the chickens then there should be no bullying
I would get more chickens if I were you you can’t have too many

If you are interested in getting chickens what breeds are you thinking?
I recommend D’Uccles they are so sweet!

 

[ChickenChimp]

I have had 2 chickens at some time or another because of predator attacks. I have them for a little while but the whole time I try to find more chickens for the flock. And if you integrate the chickens then there should be no bullying
I would get more chickens if I were you you can’t have too many

If you are interested in getting chickens what breeds are you thinking?
I recommend D’Uccles they are so sweet!

Thank you for your reply! I really like d'uccle's! We had a mix of Bantams and German Langshans . I'm open to getting more and different breeds as long as they mix well. But equally, because they are older I wouldn't want to stress them out with new rivalries (let the old girls have a peaceful life). Im really torn

 

[aart]

Integration is often(not always) very stressful.
Best to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.
Much may depend on the type of housing you have...
....and your climate for when to integrate.
I like to integrate young chicks early, least stressful integrations I've had.
Takes some setup tho.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

But as always, follow the applicable....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good to 'clutter up' the run too:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

....and:
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article



Oh, and...Welcome to BYC! @ChickenChimp
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[ChickenChimp]

Integration is often(not always) very stressful.
Best to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.
Much may depend on the type of housing you have...
....and your climate for when to integrate.
I like to integrate young chicks early, least stressful integrations I've had.
Takes some setup tho.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

But as always, follow the applicable....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good to 'clutter up' the run too:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

....and:
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article



Oh, and...Welcome to BYC! @ChickenChimp
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
View attachment 1984413

Thank you Aart for this advise, I have integrated a few chickens before but they were all a lot younger. There is a lot to consider before I do anything

 

[chrissynemetz]

I've kept just two chickens for a while in the past, and they seemed happy enough. The problem with having only a pair is that if anything should happen to one of them you're left with a single chicken.
I think I would probably try to get another two or three flock mates for them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They should be ok as a pair, if you don't want to get more chickens at this time. Obviously if something happens to one of them, you'll need a plan for the survivor. But as it sounds like you're open to continuing to keep chickens, as long as you have the space to integrate new birds, I'd probably add some chicks come spring.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Definitely more chickens! (We are all enablers here!)
If you keep only two, what's your plan when there's only one? She will be miserable, and need flockmates, and best if they are already there.
Chicks in spring! Yes! Time to integrate them early, and have a nice group again.
Mary

 

[Zach123]

My mom has had only two chickens, Susan and Mary, living in her backyard since 2013. They are perfectly happy as a pair. So two chickens is no big deal. Heck, many cities have a limit of only 3 and I bet those small flocks are fine without a bunch of other members.

But the fact is that, barring some kind of predator attack that wipes them both out, you will eventually have one and I don't think they will be happy. Many many years ago we had a single chicken for a winter, but she became a "house chicken" for that time and as soon as we could get more in the spring we did.

Mom is concerned about what to do when one of them passes (with them being almost 7 years old now, that reality is approaching sooner rather than later I'm afraid). She has no interest in keeping more chickens so she won't be getting them any new "friends." She has asked me if I would bring them up here to live with my chickens but I'm a bit concerned about moving them and integrating them at their advanced age. I'm worried the stress will be too much for them.

 

[Folly's place]

Also true. They may just need to be where they are, and hope for the best.
Or, move them as a pair, not as a single survivor.
Mary