Dorito the chicken that was dumped.....

[MissMonty]

So 6+ months back we had a predator problem that wiped out my entire flock. We planned this winter/spring to revamp the entire coop area and really put some time and money into getting it into better shape.

Well on our farm we had a chicken dumped. Yes, this was a first for us. We had cats dumped before but never a chicken. This hen is a lunatic and causes all sorts of shenanigans like even tries to get on the school bus with my kids.

So now I'm trying to figure out what to do with said chicken. I don't want her to be alone but I'm really not sure the best plan of attack here since its mid December and I really don't want to deal with chicks in the deep of the winter.

Right now she's chosen to live with my mini horse which has been working fine but its not the most secure situation and I'd be much happier to get her in the coop but I don't want her to have to live 100% alone.

Thoughts?

 

[LizzzyJo]

Could you do a quick look on Craigslist for a hen companion?

 

[MissMonty]

Could you do a quick look on Craigslist for a hen companion?

I've been watching unfortunately all I have been able to find lately is roosters or chicks and neither of which is really a good idea. I'm going to keep watching and expand my search a little.

I have a lot of friends that follow her shenanigans on FB and I asked on there, maybe I'll find someone that will even let me borrow a couple of their hens over the winter or something. Or maybe let her come bunk with them. She's a REALLY good egg layer! She's been pumping out 1-2 eggs a day still!

 

[nuthatched]

Maybe make a high winds proof roost with the horse? I'd say they horse should keep most small predators at bay.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have raised chickens here at my house 20+ years, and have had 2 roosters dumped at my house before. Which I don't like, because they are usually old, or not even a breed I am interested in. I think people figure, "She has chickens, what is one more?" but I am very selective on what kind of birds I have in my coop, and I do limit my self. (And don't think for a minute, I will not notice the new drop off.) What is sad is it becomes my job to butcher your rooster.

 

[MissMonty]

Maybe make a high winds proof roost with the horse? I'd say they horse should keep most small predators at bay.

He does actually have a building run in that is weather proof. Its open 24/7 tho so not super secure but between him and the donkeys in the field next to it they do keep some predators at bay. This spring (even with the horses and donkeys) we had a predator take out our entire flock that was in the barn with them so I'm just nervous about it.

I have raised chickens here at my house 20+ years, and have had 2 roosters dumped at my house before. Which I don't like, because they are usually old, or not even a breed I am interested in. I think people figure, "She has chickens, what is one more?" but I am very selective on what kind of birds I have in my coop, and I do limit my self, so then it is my job to butcher your rooster.

Yeah at the time I didn't even have chickens so I'm over here like uhhh, thanks......we love her now and she's a egg laying work horse (still laying 1-2 a day) but I prefer to plan these things out and I'd never have just one chicken.....Although I'm pretty convinced she's never had friends because she thinks she's a person.

 

[gimmie birdies]

2 eggs a day? Wow that is something. Is each egg a double yolk?

 

[MissMonty]

Thankfully I may have found her some buddies. I dug through craigslist and facebook joining every local group I could find and happened to find a lady with some 13 week old hens she was trying to get rid of! Hoping I can work something out to get Dorito a couple buddies until spring then I'll add more

2 eggs a day? Wow that is something. Is each egg a double yolk?

No sometimes we would find two eggs sometimes only one. At first I thought I was going crazy and just forgetting to grab the eggs the day before. I mean the only other solution is there is another chicken running around here that I have never seen They're all single yolks.

 

[Tonyroo]

Well considering you have no history on her, I say let her be. She sounds unstressed if she's laying eggs for you.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have a dark black and white OE hen with a tuff on her head, that is ready to lay, and recently I turned around in the coop and saw a diff black and white hen, that I didn't recognize. Looked like a barred rock, well I don't have any barred rocks and I thought I had a hen I didn't notice in my last chicken order suddenly turn up, and it took me almost a day to remember I have a Cuckoo maran hen that looks like a barred rock.