Bathing hens

[biophiliac]

Without other chickens - you are her flock. I think being alone makes them nervous.

ETA: Do you have more?

 

[MrsMcnugget]

Without other chickens - you are her flock. I think being alone makes them nervous.

ETA: Do you have more?

Yes! I definitely feel like part of her flock lol. I don't know much about chickens, but I'm perceptive enough to know she wasn't happy, not fully. She was happy enough to begin laying eggs for us about two weeks ago... Give or take. But she would get lonesome and call for us. I've spent a lot of time with her the last month she's been with us.

We did get her a friend about a week ago, but we've still got her in quarantine... Of sorts. Mrs. was not very happy and made a lot of noise for the first few days. Now she hangs around most of the time to be close to her buddy, waiting for her to come out and roam with her.

Because Mrs is a stray and had previously visited, we still allow her to do what she has always done, roam free. She stays in our yard now and we will have our run up by this weekend hopefully and she will stay in it... At least that's the expectation.

I don't know if anyone else on the site has experienced being adopted by a chicken, but we aren't sure if it'd be right to fence her in. We have to chase off the rooster and other hens that attacked her, so we really just want to keep her safe. We're so new to this, but so far so good. Mrs. Mcnugget goes in the coop at night and I let her out in the morning, feed and clean up coop and enjoy her company.

We're going to see how things go with two birds for now and maybe expand in the spring.

 

[biophiliac]

You keep saying you dont know about chickens but you are sure doing right by her!
A secure run to keep them safe from predators and 'roaming gangs of poultry bullies' when you cannot be present to supervise free roaming would be ideal. Look into deep litter for the run to keep i pleasant and healthy for the birds.
They will get used to being confined and will be happy to roam for a bit when you can supervise. Shake a can of scratch or BOSS to lure them back in.

 

[biophiliac]

Her friend is Gingerbread? I saw your other thread.

 

[MrsMcnugget]

You keep saying you dont know about chickens but you are sure doing right by her!
A secure run to keep them safe from predators and 'roaming gangs of poultry bullies' when you cannot be present to supervise free roaming would be ideal. Look into deep litter for the run to keep i pleasant and healthy for the birds.
They will get used to being confined and will be happy to roam for a bit when you can supervise. Shake a can of scratch or BOSS to lure them back in.

Awe Thanks! That makes me feel better! I was thinking I'd like to do the deep litter thing It seems like a good fit for us.
Just as I was reading your comment Mrs. Mcnugget was running from across our property to get to me and my little boy. He's the little human who spills the meal worms, so she loves him!

Yep! Gingerbread is Mrs. Mcnugget's new friend. She doesn't roam nearly as far and wide as she did before Gingerbread showed up. So, I think she's looking forward to being the boss for a change, instead of the bottom of the pecking order.