can you have just one?

[LindsayB]

I have 4 hens but I'm really only attached to one, its an easter egger that we raised as a day old chick. i want to get rid of the other three. would it be wrong keeping just one hen alone?

 

[lurky]

She would not be very happy alone.

 

[Katy]

Chickens are a flock animal and really aren't very happy alone.

 

[Henrietta23]

I had it happen that I lost two of my three hens close together and we hadn't planned on getting more. I hadn't found BYC yet!

Poor Rocky would spend all her time at our sliding glass door looking in for company. And yet she isn't a friendly chicken. We got two pullets and she was much happier. Now she has 14 friends to hang around with including roosters for the first time in her 10 years. She has a blast pushing them around!

 

[LindsayB]

okay, well what if I kept just one other hen with her?

 

[spook]

Can you keep 1, sure. If you want to keep 2 why not.
But, like the posts said prior to your 2nd question, chickens are a flock mentality. You as the human can do as you please. Some folks even have house chickens. So, its up to you what you want to do.