Rhode Island Red? Hen (MA)

A hen wandered into my backyard a few days ago and I can't find the owner. According to the board of health I'm the only one licensed to own chickens in at least a 1 mile radius so I feel that I've done my best to find her owner and want to offer her up here.

She's a nice brown/red hen which I think is a Rhode Island Red and she seems friendly. I was able to pick her up without a squabble. She laid an egg on the second day under my care so I'm positive it's a girl. I don't know her history so take at your own risk. She occasionally gasps and shakes her head, possibly indicative of a respiratory issue. Maybe the previous owner ditched her with me since quite a few people know I have chickens. My two barred rock hens that I raised from baby-size got very puffy and territorial around her so I don't want to try and introduce them. Thankfully my hens have always been healthy but at the same time that means I am not sure how to treat this orphaned one.

She's being separately housed right now and fed/watered so I'll take care of her as long as I have to but hope someone who wants to start a flock or has a more docile flock will take her in so she won't be so lonely!

Besides the occasional gasping/head shake, she seems to always be in good spirits, walks around a lot, lays eggs, and is easy to pick up. I called around local vets but nobody seems to take care of poultry, just dogs and cats. I'm going to keep doing my research to try and cure her of the gasping but fortunately it's infrequent. By the way, she doesn't seem to like dogs, or at least my dog (a buff mini poodle)

She won't come with anything but about ten minutes away from my home is sweet meadow farms in Sherborn so you'll be able to pick up food, etc, from there. SHE IS NOT FOR EATING, ONLY TO A CARING/RESPONSIBLE HOME. PLEASE SHOW PHOTO OF WHERE YOU PLAN TO KEEP HER. PICK UP IN NATICK, MA.

First .
I would love to take her she looks like a beautiful chicken but I cant take another rir.
Quote: You will probably wind up keeping her I probably wouldn't be able to give her away. Just put her in the coop for like an hour or 2 with the others(remove food and water incase she's sick) and sit there and if they actually fight they probably wont though if she's a hen. Good luck hope this helped.

Thanks for the advice. I've had her somewhat close in proximity to my two hens for two days now, and my two barred rock hens just ignore her completely. I let them all free-range for a bit with the new one by itself in a separate fenced off area. Unfortunately one of my hens tried to peck the RIR right in the face through the fencing. The RIR backed down immediately and didn't reciprocate which is good but I don't really want to have to put her through anymore trauma. I think someone ditched her since nobody in the area has any chickens but me.

I do have a big spacious omlet cube with extended run just for my two girls so space isn't really an issue, I just think that they're a bit aggressive right now. I think the big difference in color probably doesn't help.

If there are no takers for her I'm not planning on mingling them for at least a month. I will be devastated if my girls got sick from a newcomer. She's also definitely a hen since she laid an egg.

I have 6 hens 4 different breeds my Plymouth rock hen Dawn and one of my buff orpingtons Ducky are best friends and go every where together. If your worried she could be sick take her to the vet.

antmit said:

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Thanks for the advice.  I've had her somewhat close in proximity to my two hens for two days now, and my two barred rock hens just ignore her completely.  I let them all free-range for a bit with the new one by itself in a separate fenced off area.  Unfortunately one of my hens tried to peck the RIR right in the face through the fencing.  The RIR backed down immediately and didn't reciprocate which is good but I don't really want to have to put her through anymore trauma.  I think someone ditched her since nobody in the area has any chickens but me.

I do have a big spacious omlet cube with extended run just for my two girls so space isn't really an issue, I just think that they're a bit aggressive right now.  I think the big difference in color probably doesn't help. 

If there are no takers for her I'm not planning on mingling them for at least a month.  I will be devastated if my girls got sick from a newcomer.  She's also definitely a hen since she laid an egg.
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The best way to introduce is at night once your girls have already perched for the evening. Add her then .. In the morning when they all wake up they will act like she has always been there. To be safe on the sickness part quarantine her for 30 days to be safe. A vet somewhat near you is Danvers animal hospital in Danvers ma, they see chickens never try to add her during the day, dangerous for both parties

Antmit if you still have her and are looking to re-home her I would be willing to take her. I have 3 golden comet hens that I think she would fit in perfectly with. My girls are very docile. I live in CT, let me know if you're still interested in a good home for her.

Hi there~
I still have her, she's been quarantined all this time. I never medicated her, believing she was strong enough to deal with whatever she had on her own and it certainly seemed to be the case. It seems to be more her mannerism than anything else! So it's been about 3 weeks and besides laying an egg on the first day, she has not laid a single egg since. Thought I'd mention that in case you were hoping for a prolific layer. Still definitely a pretty and nice girl though.

I will PM you my contact info
Anthony

Claimed, thank you.