- May 20, 2013
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I had 2 hens and rooster, an established (small) flock. I added 2 younger buff orpingtons, slowly, but they were both rejected by them all. The hens chased them and pecked at them, and the rooster would chase them away. They still hadn't been accepted when a stray dog broke into the coop and killed one of the younger hens. Now the one "baby" (prob 5 months old now) stays to herself. She doesn't forage with the others when I let them out. She stays in the coop, looking lonely and alone. The rooster has attempted to mate with her several times, so she must be coming of age, but I feel so bad for her being rejected for so long, and now she's alone, without her sister.
Should I buy another hen close to her age, to be friends with her? Will the other hens and roo eventually accept her? It's been quite a long time and she just seems depressed.
Edited to add: the younger hens were 14 weeks old when I got them. That was 6 weeks ago, so the one left is 20 weeks, and her sister hen was killed about 2 weeks ago.
Should I buy another hen close to her age, to be friends with her? Will the other hens and roo eventually accept her? It's been quite a long time and she just seems depressed.
Edited to add: the younger hens were 14 weeks old when I got them. That was 6 weeks ago, so the one left is 20 weeks, and her sister hen was killed about 2 weeks ago.
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