Adding a new coopmate

[beati]

Hello BYC,
Sadly this week, I lost one of my girls. I started out about 5 years ago with a rescue and added 3 chicks. Now, there is only Sweet Pea. She was very attached to her friend, Matilda, in fact, she didn't leave her the whole morning while she was struggling. After Matilda died, she spent most of the day looking for her. I know she needs a buddy and I am working on that. I go out and dig worms with her, sing and look for bugs, but it's not enough.
So I was wondering, should I keep her in her coop until I add the new girl, or is she okay to free range alone? She seems a bit depressed, which is normal I understand.
Also, I have a large yard, and I know I will have to quarantine the new bird, (she is coming from a neighbor) but I won't be able to put them in separate yards. Is that a problem?

 

[azygous]

First, please permit Sweet Pea to free range as it will let her have the joy of scratching in the soil and dirt bathing, two of the top activities that send a thrill up the leg of a chicken taking their mind off their woes.

If your neighbor is close, there really is not much point of quarantine as you probably are very familiar with the general health of their flock, and any viruses present are likely already shared by both flocks due to proximity and you both visiting each other's flocks.

Introducing a single chicken to a single chicken, is about as simple as you can get. Sweet Pea is likely to greet her new best friend with a stern peck on the head, and if the newcomer accepts the signal that Sweet Pea rules her new "flock", they should both be good to go with a minimum of disagreement.

 

[beati]

First, please permit Sweet Pea to free range as it will let her have the joy of scratching in the soil and dirt bathing, two of the top activities that send a thrill up the leg of a chicken taking their mind off their woes.

If your neighbor is close, there really is not much point of quarantine as you probably are very familiar with the general health of their flock, and any viruses present are likely already shared by both flocks due to proximity and you both visiting each other's flocks.

Introducing a single chicken to a single chicken, is about as simple as you can get. Sweet Pea is likely to greet her new best friend with a stern peck on the head, and if the newcomer accepts the signal that Sweet Pea rules her new "flock", they should both be good to go with a minimum of disagreement.

 

[beati]

Thanks so much!!