Adding a hen?

[Cozycut]

Sadly...I lost a hen today. She was sick and didn’t make it. My question is, I only had 2 hens and now my Red is by herself for the first time in her whole life. Do I add more hens, just 1...how do I incorporate more? My sweet Red is 4 1/2.
Thank you is advance for your advice!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I've had God provide for me multiple times for years with a new hen after I've lost one. The majority of them have come free, too. Sometimes He has even given me two for one. Last summer I lost my dear hen Patti, and God gave me Jacqueline and Anna; and Jacqueline looks a lot like Patti, who both are barnyard mixes. When I lost Lily one summer\fall, God gave me Sparkles. He has even replaced one of my flocks that the majority had died from Marick's disease with a flock that is called the Church Birds.
The first chicken God ever replaced was one of my favorite chicks named Fuss. He gave me two new chicks named Patt and Tanse. Those two are the hens in my aviator.
I just lost my dear hen Marvalo II. Organ failure. Which I'm pretty certain is Water Belly. I haven't seen any new hens suddenly show up or anything, yet, but God did just save Marvalo's younger half sister ( Vienna ) from a dog that my Mom thinks is a wolf hybrid. So if God just wanted to save Vienna and heal her back that the dog tore open; I will be ok with that.
So sorry about your loss. My Marvalo was going to be 3 years old on June 4th. I don't know if anything I said will you see as advice, but I hope that it is encouragement for you and your loss.

 

[aart]

Sadly...I lost a hen today. She was sick and didn’t make it. My question is, I only had 2 hens and now my Red is by herself for the first time in her whole life. Do I add more hens, just 1...how do I incorporate more? My sweet Red is 4 1/2.
Thank you is advance for your advice!

Welcome to BYC @Cozycut ...sorry for your loss.

Adding more birds can be tricky.
Your remaining hen might be glad for new company,
or try to kill any 'strangers' that arrive in her territory.

Knowing more about the coop/run you have,
dimensions and pics,
might help garner specific suggestions.

But here's some basic tips and links:
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[50-45-1]

Sorry for the loss of your hen!
She had 4 good years tho, and thats longer than most chickens get.
You could get chicks now, but they will take time before they will be companions for your remaining hen. You would have to keep them separated until the youngsters are big enough to escape her if she is aggressive twards them.
You could look around for adult hens. I would start on craigslist or your neighborhood chicken owners. Maybe someone is willing to part with one hen. You must quarentine the new bird for some time and evaluate she is pest and diesese free before introducing her to yours. Every chicken has there own personality and you will have to watch them closely at first.
Good luck with your chickens!

 

[Mrs. K]

If you can get adult chickens, I think I would add two. Two younger birds, point of lay would be best, and I think that it should go pretty smooth, with a maybe a couple of dust ups. The reason, is I think that there is a good chance the older hen will die soon. Just normal end of life due to age. If you just get one bird, you will back in this predicament again.