Should I get my Leghorn a friend?

[currythecockerel]

Hey everyone I just wanted some advice because I have been contemplating getting my hen a new friend. I currently have three hens: one white leghorn and two silkies, they get along well but the silkies are a lot older so they prefer to spend every day in the coop or roosting. Cloud however is extremely social/active and is always spending every day wandering our property - if we are outside she'll follow us everywhere like a little dog. I feel sorry for her though, as she spends every day alone (since the silkies don't like to come outside). I have two main questions: 1 - would it be a bad idea to introduce a new hen to an already established trio? and 2 - should I get another leghorn for her or could it be another breed? - because there is currently one hen around her age up for adoption at the animal shelter near where I live but she is a Rhode Island Red. Cloud is also quite dominant and I am concerned that she may be a bit mean to a newcomer (she took on a roo in the past!)

Thanks for reading!!!

 

[BGcoop]

Yes

 

[BGcoop]

RIRs can be very dominant too so if Cloud is already a bit bossy those two might do alright although RIR tend to be larger bodied than leghorns, the interesting part of the mix is the silkies- I have not had any of those so I’m not sure how they’d handle another bossy breed around.

 

[currythecockerel]

RIRs can be very dominant too so if Cloud is already a bit bossy those two might do alright although RIR tend to be larger bodied than leghorns, the interesting part of the mix is the silkies- I have not had any of those so I’m not sure how they’d handle another bossy breed around.

thanks for the input!! yeah that is definitely something else I have considered, although I don't think the silkies would have much of a reaction since those two stick to each other and roost for majority of the day (not much pecking around). However I'm not sure if a new hen would purposefully bother them during the day or mind her own business with Cloud in the garden