Can Seramas live happily in pairs?

[TwoCrows]

Birds do mourn over the loss of flock mates, I've seen it several times. They eventually get past it but it can take weeks, even months. As long as she is not completely alone, she will be ok. Be gentle with her, don't force her to go outside, she may stop laying and not eat much. I had a hen get nightfrights when her best friend died. So just give her a bit of extra attention, she will be ok. But definitely watch for over mating, it can kill a hen.

 

[SulkyBantam]

@aart?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I can't advise on keeping a pair, although I feel if I was in your situation I'd probably try it. A single lonely pullet is probably worse than a pullet and a cockerel pair.

...by a stroke of luck, the breeder has one about the age of my hen herself, about 6 or 7 months old. They may even remember each other

This is my primary reason for commenting. They won't remember each other. You should still introduce them gradually over the course of a few days, if at all possible. Keeping the new cockerel in a separate enclosure but within sight of the pullet for a few days will make the introduction phase smoother.

 

[SulkyBantam]

Birds do mourn over the loss of flock mates, I've seen it several times. They eventually get past it but it can take weeks, even months. As long as she is not completely alone, she will be ok. Be gentle with her, don't force her to go outside, she may stop laying and not eat much. I had a hen get nightfrights when her best friend died. So just give her a but of extra attention, she will be ok.

Thanks, yes I have 2 mourning hens as one outside can't get over the death of her rival . She only just started to lay (ditto) so not expecting too many eggs yet anyway.

She sits on her perch which was her friend's fave spot and cries for her a lot.
She had to watch her bestie struggling to breathe, then thrash about and twitch and expire, then travel with her body all the way back from the vets (she didn't manage the injection).
She sat right next to her dead friend trying to talk to her all the way it was heartbreaking. Do you think she'd like a roo and it would work?

 

[SulkyBantam]

I can't advise on keeping a pair, although I feel if I was in your situation I'd probably try it. A single lonely pullet is probably worse than a pullet and a cockerel pair.



This is my primary reason for commenting. They won't remember each other. You should still introduce them gradually over the course of a few days, if at all possible. Keeping the new cockerel in a separate enclosure but within sight of the pullet for a few days will make the introduction phase smoother.

Thanks! Yes, I will have them see each other before meeting.

 

[TwoCrows]

Thanks, yes I have 2 mourning hens as one outside can't get over the death of her rival . She only just started to lay (ditto) so not expecting too many eggs yet anyway.

She sits on her perch which was her friend's fave spot and cries for her a lot.
She had to watch her bestie struggling to breathe, then thrash about and twitch and expire, then travel with her body all the way back from the vets (she didn't manage the injection).
She sat right next to her dead friend trying to talk to her all the way it was heartbreaking. Do you think she'd like a roo and it would work?

When they are mourning, no other bird helps. It just takes time for them to get over the loss, just like it you were sad over one of them passing or your dog. One of my hens mourned for 3 months. She stopped talking (she constantly yammered all day long before) she stopped laying for 3 months, refused to get off the roost bar, wouldn't go outside, she stopped eating, panicked when I turned out the lights. The bird was clearly saddened. In your case, right now she is sad. But you might consider adding more hens, more often than not, hens prefer the company of hens, not roosters. But that's not to say adding a rooster later on wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[SulkyBantam]

When they are mourning, no other bird helps. It just takes time for them to get over the loss, just like it you were sad over one of them passing or your dog. One of my hens mourned for 3 months. She stopped talking (she constantly yammered all day long before) she stopped laying for 3 months, refused to get off the roost bar, wouldn't go outside, she stopped eating, panicked when I turned out the lights. The bird was clearly saddened. In your case, right now she is sad. But you might consider adding more hens, more often than not, hens prefer the company of hens, not roosters. But that's not to say adding a rooster later on wouldn't be a bad idea.

Thanks.
That's funny, I've always found company helps my grieving hens.
She's crying a lot at night too.

Anyway, the only hens I could get would be significantly younger and smaller than her.
She can be a feisty little hen and I don't want any bullying issues. Also, I don't want to overcrowd their cage or I'd get a hen and a roo, this may be my only chance for a roo. That's the reason I'm asking about a pair.
Thanks for your sympathy.

 

[aart]

@aart?

Might work out, might not.
As always the male to female ratio depends on the demeanor's of the birds,
and sometimes their housing space.

Wonders about the lung sac infection tho....was there a necrospy done?
If it was caused by a respiratory disease,
or being confined inside most the time,
might want to rethink it.

 

[TwoCrows]

Might work out, might not.
As always the male to female ratio depends on the demeanor's of the birds,
and sometimes their housing space.

Wonders about the lung sac infection tho....was there a necrospy done?
If it was caused by a respiratory disease,
or being confined inside most the time,
might want to rethink it.

@Sulky Bantam X2, when a bird dies of an infection, you need to be extremely careful bringing in new birds. She could be a carrier. If you had others in your flock, no doubt they could possibly be contagious as well. You should wait at least 30 days before introducing new birds.

 

[SulkyBantam]

Might work out, might not.
As always the male to female ratio depends on the demeanor's of the birds,
and sometimes their housing space.

Wonders about the lung sac infection tho....was there a necrospy done?
If it was caused by a respiratory disease,
or being confined inside most the time,
might want to rethink it.

@Sulky Bantam X2, when a bird dies of an infection, you need to be extremely careful bringing in new birds. She could be a carrier. If you had others in your flock, no doubt they could possibly be contagious as well. You should wait at least 30 days before introducing new birds.

The vet said she could be a carrier, it was some kind of flu-like virus and Sally was a very delicate hen. The vet said she was unlikely to pass anything on, but she's being treated just in case.