Can a hen live alone?

[chickiemom3g]

Very sad to me that my golden retriever was able to break through my chicken pen area and has killed 2 of my 3 hens... I was planning on reinforcing the pen w chicken wire but he got in there to play w them before I could get the job done. I only have one white large hen left and she looks afraid and lonely.
Any suggestions? My heart is so sad in not protecting my girls before this had to happen.

 

[boskelli1571]

Sorry for your losses.

Hens can live alone, but are very much social creatures, so do better with a flock. Since the weather will be warming soon, you can get to repair the coop and give her some friends. Meanwhile, she will need lots of TLC, she is probably quite afraid being alone,

 

[chickiemom3g]

Thank you for your reply and your understanding. It makes me so sad for her, I know she is looking for the others especially when the sun went down... Just breaks my heart... I'm actually not sure I can keep doing this because I get so hurt when something like this happens. Do you think I could put 2 others from a friend that are about the same age or will they fight w each other?

 

[mortie]

There would likely be some squabbling but I wouldn't add any more chickens until your run is fixed up. I don't think chicken wire will keep a determined dog out, though. Maybe look into hardware coth?

 

[donrae]

Were it me, I'd get ONE other chicken, or two chickens from different flocks. I'm not going to go into the quarantine issues involved, but if you get two birds from the same flock, they're going to gang up on your survivor and exclude her. She really won't be any happier being the outsider.

 

[zabrielle23]

I have a hen who wants to fight other chickens right now she is with a Delaware rooster they can see the other five hens and rooster. I am considering moving the rooster with some barred rock hens and leaving the other rhode island red rooster with my other two rhode island red hens If there is only a fence between her and the others is it ok for her to be separated I know the rooster is stressing her out because he only has her