Do pullets get lonely?

[SunnyAlberta]

I have three girls. "Momma" is the oldest, a Buff Orpington who's about 25 weeks and has been laying for two weeks. The other two are six weeks younger and not laying yet, a Barred Rock and a Columbian Wyandotte. They came from the same farmer at the same time. The younger girls were raised together and have done everything together, side-by-side, since I got them. Momma has always been the dominant bird, but she also travels in the coop and run alone. When they come out of the run into the yard, Momma moves about alone, too. Is it possible that Momma is lonely and would like a fourth bird to pair up with, or should I leave well enough alone? The girls are healthy and do not fight.

 

[Judy]

You could go either way IMO. She's not really alone, she's in a certain kind of relationship with the other two. Adding a fourth might just result in 3 groups -- or they might become buddies. It's just whether you'd rather have 3 or 4.

You might consider getting another BO, since they tend to be mellow; might increase the chances of their becoming buddies.