Do chickens get lonely?

[VTMom2]

Last fall, I had a family of foxes almost wipe out my flock- out of 8 there were only 2 survivors...I chose to wait until spring to get new birds, so my remaining "Ladies" (Sadie & Dot) hunkered down for winter.
I found my Sadie dead today, and I am now worried that Dot will get depressed. Does anyone know I chickens get depressed? I know this sounds silly but I do worry.
Thanks!
VTMom2

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Yes they do get terribly lonely if it is just one chicken. They are flock animals. Can you get her a friend or put her where she can see the new chicks and talk to them?

If none of that is possible, you might consider putting a mirror in with her so she sees another chicken.

 

[VTMom2]

Thank you for your response! I am going to ask the local farm down the road today if I can have one of theirs, and my chicks will be coming soon.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Thank you for your response! I am going to ask the local farm down the road today if I can have one of theirs, and my chicks will be coming soon.

I was going to tell you that you could have one of mine--but it looks like you might be in Vermont. In which case, that probably won't work out. You could also look on Craigslist. We sell all our cull birds on CL, $15 for a started pullet or $5 for an older hen.

 

[VTMom2]

Thank you so much!

 

[VTMom2]

I asked my husband to hang one up when I went to work this morning, he looked at me like I was crazy, but he did it!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Make sure you get a healthy chicken if you get one that is grown up. You can find out if "they have ever had a cold before"- those you don't want as they would be carriers of disease most likely. Chickens don't get colds, they get diseases. Usually quarantine is good for one month but since you only have one chicken, in my opinion quarantine isn't practical. If they are in carrier status they can still pass your quarantine and get your chicken sick.

It is good to at least ask if the chicken is healthy before you take her, and also dust for mites/lice and deworm her!! Toss eggs for at least a couple of weeks after wormers from what I have read on BYC.