- Apr 28, 2011
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Hi everyone! I am very, very new to chickens and learning more about them every day. We sort of inherited a pair of chickens that came with our house. They were already living there in a small run and coop in the backyard where they are quite happy, it seems. They are older (about 4-5 years) and both used to be egg laying, according to the original owners, however only one of them lays eggs and she only lays them every couple of days, at best. We've been wondering what to do with them in general since we would much prefer to have egg laying chickens if we have chickens at all, but as a vegetarian city girl, I've just sort of hidden my head in the sand and ignored the issue...until now, that is. One of the chickens, the non-layer, has injured her leg somehow. I'm not sure what happened to her, but she is not using one of her legs and having a pretty hard time getting around. The leg doesn't show any wounds or anything, but it's just hanging there, limply and doesn't respond when I touch it. I put her in a dog crate with food and water, so that she doesn't have to scramble up and down the ramp, but I think the end is near for her. I have a couple of friends who told me that I can give chickens away for meat very easily in this town. Is this, realistically, the best thing to do for her right now? I am also considering taking her to the vet to have her euthanized, but my husband thinks that is kind of crazy.
Anyway, my question is--what about the other hen? I think they two hens have been together for years. Will she be okay if her friend disappears one day? She is also pretty old and only lays a couple of eggs a week, should I get rid of her too? Would she do better if I got her a new companion? I apologize for my chicken ignorance. I never thought that I would have chickens and I am definitely going to think about these things and learn more before I get any new chickens! I think their coop is probably too small to house more than 2 birds.
Anyway, my question is--what about the other hen? I think they two hens have been together for years. Will she be okay if her friend disappears one day? She is also pretty old and only lays a couple of eggs a week, should I get rid of her too? Would she do better if I got her a new companion? I apologize for my chicken ignorance. I never thought that I would have chickens and I am definitely going to think about these things and learn more before I get any new chickens! I think their coop is probably too small to house more than 2 birds.