Two chickens enough?

[chillismom]

I started out with three hens (T-Boz, Chilli and Left Eye) who I raised from chicks three years ago to be pets (w the added benefit of eggs!) About a week and a half ago T-Boz was killed suddenly. Now I’ve upgraded my fences and I have two chickens left. They seem to have adjusted well (for Chilli it was like nothing happened) but I have noticed they’ve become needier and often get separated which bothers Left Eye. At first I was against it but now my gut tells me I should get two chicks so they can have a proper gang sometime this year. Unfortunately I can’t tell if that’s the right choice for my girls or if I just selfishly want more chickens. Any insight on pros and cons for them socially?

 

[coach723]

Chickens don't do as well alone. At some point you are likely to lose one and then you'll be left with a lone chicken. If you have the space to do it, and would like more, I personally would get another couple, so that you aren't likely to end up with a lone chicken at some point. Beware of chicken math.......a long time ago I started with two that I acquired. Then added 6 more, and then more......and then more......I now have 25 and a bunch of eggs in an incubator.

 

[Abriana]

Just to be safe (in case you lose another), as said above, I’d get just a few more. Maybe three or four? I’m sure they would enjoy having a few more flock mates

 

[black_cat]

You DEFINITELY want more chickens! They'll enjoy being part of a larger flock (provided your setup will accommodate) and it eliminates the issue of a potential lone-chicken crisis.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I see the introduction of two pullet chicks as a positive, this can be achieved with sex-linked chicks to avoid unwanted cockerels (and the heartbreak you'd experience if you had to give him up or send him to freezer camp.)
If you ensure that you put the chicks in a wire cage in the coop so that the elder girls can see and hear these birds day in, day out, then incorporating them into a single flock when the chicks are about six weeks of age will go MUCH easier.
Dealing with more than one type of feed for one flock is nearly impossible. My recommendation is to switch your girls to non-medicated chick feed by adding some to your remaining supply of whatever brand of food they're enjoying now, with an eye towards having this old feed used up completely by the time your chicks are six weeks of age and incorporated into the flock. Put a calcium supplement beside their feeder. oyster shell or ground egg shell from your feed store will be sufficient. Your big girls will eat what they need of the calcium supplementation and later on the chicks might nibble a little, but will avoid overdosing themselves on it. Corid (amprolium) in everybody's water the first week that the chicks are on the ground (or in the grass), to bolster their immunity to cocci.

 

[Chickenmom283]

I started out with three hens (T-Boz, Chilli and Left Eye) who I raised from chicks three years ago to be pets (w the added benefit of eggs!) About a week and a half ago T-Boz was killed suddenly. Now I’ve upgraded my fences and I have two chickens left. They seem to have adjusted well (for Chilli it was like nothing happened) but I have noticed they’ve become needier and often get separated which bothers Left Eye. At first I was against it but now my gut tells me I should get two chicks so they can have a proper gang sometime this year. Unfortunately I can’t tell if that’s the right choice for my girls or if I just selfishly want more chickens. Any insight on pros and cons for them socially?

Chickens are pack- or flock- animals and they cannot survive alone. You should get more chickens, and to protect your girlies you need a roo. I'd recommend getting a few more hens and a rooster, or if you can only have three, add a rooster to the family!! Three is better than two with chickens, because if you lose one, the other is likely to pine and.. welllll.. die? So yes, it's the best thing for your hens to get more chickens.

 

[black_cat]

Chickens are pack- or flock- animals and they cannot survive alone. You should get more chickens, and to protect your girlies you need a roo. I'd recommend getting a few more hens and a rooster, or if you can only have three, add a rooster to the family!! Three is better than two with chickens, because if you lose one, the other is likely to pine and.. welllll.. die? So yes, it's the best thing for your hens to get more chickens.

It's generally not a good idea to have a rooster if you have fewer than 10 hens and no experience with managing roosters. They aren't necessary for protection (especially if you don't have a free range flock) can be a huge hasse to deal with, and, in many suburban and urban areas, roosters are illegal.

 

[Tortoise]

I only have two. Started with only two. one died. The one left did fine acted perfectly fine. I didn't want her alone for winter and I wanted to always have two so I added another. Two, at least my two are perfectly fine being just them. They are very personable and love hanging out with me or my tortoises when we are out there. If we aren't, they seem just as happy and content with each other
If you only want two then stick with two.

 

[Chickenmom283]

That's true. But we had no experience with our chickens, and our rooster is not difficult to deal with at all! However, you are right about it being illegal in some places. But if you do end up getting more hens and don't want them killed by pretadors, or want baby chicks, I would recommend a roo.

It's generally not a good idea to have a rooster if you have fewer than 10 hens and no experience with managing roosters. They aren't necessary for protection (especially if you don't have a free range flock) can be a huge hasse to deal with, and, in many suburban and urban areas, roosters are illegal.

 

[Chickenmom283]

Well I suppose two is fine but once one dies, all (well, most) chickens can't stand being alone and will most likely die too. Recommending you to get more unless you think you can't handle it. But it's your decision, I'm just giving a suggestion.

I only have two. Started with only two. one died. The one left did fine acted perfectly fine. I didn't want her alone for winter and I wanted to always have two so I added another. Two, at least my two are perfectly fine being just them. They are very personable and love hanging out with me or my tortoises when we are out there. If we aren't, they seem just as happy and content with each other
If you only want two then stick with two.