Do I need another chicken?

[DEN3292022]

I lost two of my chickens yesterday but thankfully I still have one. My hen dusk. I don't know if I need to get another hen or rooster and I don't know how or when to introduce them or if I'm ready because I don't want to feel like I'm replacing I'm just trying to make sure my dusk is happy again.

 

[Battlepants]

I would say yes to one or two hens, but no to a rooster in this situation, unless you plan on having around 6 total hens (over-mating and injury would be likely in a small flock). They are very social creatures and not meant to be alone.

But yea, approach it as a "I am doing this for dusk" rather than "I am replacing" and it becomes a bit easier.

 

[SilverBirds]

You definitely need to get her a friend. They are flock birds and don't do well alone. I'd suggest getting at least 2 hens. I'm sorry for the loss of your other 2 birds

 

[cavemanrich]

You say lost,,,, does that mean died of sickness,,,, or predator attack,,, or ran away??
Chickens are not people,,, although I know we LUV our pets. They do not make bonds similar to what people make with high emotions.
If your hen is healthy,, just get another hen,, and put together. With 2 chickens,, integration is simple,,

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[Isadora]

I would choose getting another hen over getting a rooster. Typically roosters need more than one lady so that they don't injure one with over mating.
Chickens are flock animals and really need company of other chickens.
I'm sorry you lost some of yours. So sad.

 

[NatJ]

...I don't know how or when to introduce them...

--First, make sure the new hens are healthy. This definitely includes a thorough checkup, looking for signs of illness or parasites. This might also include a 30-day quarantine completely separate from your current chicken, so you can see if the new ones develop any problems, before they spread it to your hen.

--Then, let the new hen(s) live next to your current one for a few days or longer, separated by wire mesh so they can see each other but each have their own space.

--Then, let them be together while you supervise. If they get along, that's great! If they do not get along well, try letting them live next to each other for a while longer.

Or, you can get chicks:
--arrange a brooder in the coop, so your hen can see the chicks as they grow.
--buy chicks & start raising them in the brooder.
--When the chicks are a week or two old, make a small opening so the chicks can come out to meet the hen, but she cannot get into their space. (Adjust the size of the opening as needed.)
--At some later point, remove the brooder, when you see that the chicks no longer need it.

Notes about quarantine:
--young chicks directly from a hatchery do not need to be quarantined, because they usually do not have diseases or parasites.
--for one or two adult hens, being added to your one adult hen, I would skip the quarantine. It would be a much longer time of your hen and the new ones being lonely, it would make little difference in how many chickens you might have to treat for anything (since you only have one current hen that could catch it), and it is difficult to keep them sufficiently separate anyway (wind blows, dust travels on your clothes, etc.)
--If someone has a large flock, and wants to bring in a few new chickens, quarantine makes much more sense: they can treat just the new chickens if they need it, but do not have to treat the large original flock. But I think your case is different, because of the small number of chickens involved.