Last Chicken Left - Small suburbian home Australia Please HELP

Hello, we bought 3 Isa brown chickens 4 years ago with our kids, and we have loved them to bits.

- Chook #1 died in 2014 from what i now believe was "egg peritonitis"
- Chook #2 got sick in november /december just gone, and we spent over $1,000 at the vet, and ended up have an operation in which it was spayed from the "egg peritonitis". It had a 20% survival rate, and it pulled through and is happier than ever.
- Chook #3 has been quite ill the last week with the same symptoms. I took it to the vet last week, and it was the same egg peritonitis, and was operated on today. Unfortunately it didnt pull through. Im so devastated, and have to go and pick her up tomorrow and pay the $900 bill. Im very sad.

How likely is it that all 3 chickens have had the same thing? The vet was saying as they are genetically enhanced to produce an egg a day, they reproductive systems cant handle it around 3 years old and pack up. Its very common apparently.

We now only have the one chook left. Im worried about her being on her own as I know they are flock animals. However we only live on a 500m2 block, with a tiny backyard, and i spent a GOOD portion of my day hosing the chook poo etc off our furniture etc - they are alot of work for me as much as I love them to bits, I have vowed never to get any more animals (to add to our hectic circus). So I dont know what to do with this last beautiful chook. I dont want him to be alone, but I dont want to go and get more chickens, especially if all three have had peritonitis.

Would it be cruel to keep her on her own, could she adjust - She has the dogs? and the kids?

I dont know what to do. I selfishly want to keep her because we love her, but I dont really want to add more chickens?

Thanking you in advance.
Natasha

Welcome to BYC, I would get some bantams they are great for small areas and are healthier, The vet was right in telling you it was a common problem, any hybrid chicken will have problems with egg laying as even though they are built to lay lots of eggs their body will wear out to quick. Chickens are social birds and so that is why I suggested bantams most standard birds come in bantam sizes and there are some chicken breeds that are specifically bantams.

Wow, what a vet bill! I really don't think chickens are good hobby for you, especially having to clean up the furniture, it must be a tight fit with the yard, dogs and kids . I think I would give that bird to someone that has birds, and get something else that is longer lived.

Mrs. K said:

Wow, what a vet bill! I really don't think chickens are good hobby for you, especially having to clean up the furniture, it must be a tight fit with the yard, dogs and kids . I think I would give that bird to someone that has birds, and get something else that is longer lived.

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I agree with Mrs. K. You don't want more chickens, yet you know that chickens are flock animals. Sometimes the hardest thing for us is to do the kindest thing for our pets. Whether that's putting them down if they're chronically ill or in pain, or finding them a new home if needed, or something else. I hope you can come to a good resolution for your problem.