Down to 1 Hen - Should I order chicks?

[Old Farm Old Lady]

I'm new here, and fairly new at raising chickens, so thanks in advance for your patience! We've had chickens for 5 years, never more than 5 at once. We keep chickens as back-yard pets & producers, so being down to 1 lone hen this winter (our last group of chicks from Meyer had 2 who died suddenly within weeks of one another when they began laying & the hatchery explained that heart attacks aren't uncommon at that stage, and another who became egg-bound). Now we're down to 1 Plymouth Barred Rock, and I expect she must be lonely! I want to order chicks this spring, but am concerned about her becoming hen-pecked by them. Recommendations?

 

[cavemanrich]

Get more chickens
Your Barred Rock will not be abused or pecked on for a very long time.
(until your chicks grow to be adult) At that stage all will be living in harmony anyway. There is always a pecking order, so no telling where she will fit in.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,

 

[SueT]

Welcome to BYC! In my experience, the oldest is always the top hen. Get some chicks, they'll look up to her.
Good luck!

 

[4 ever Orpington]

I'm new here, and fairly new at raising chickens, so thanks in advance for your patience! We've had chickens for 5 years, never more than 5 at once. We keep chickens as back-yard pets & producers, so being down to 1 lone hen this winter (our last group of chicks from Meyer had 2 who died suddenly within weeks of one another when they began laying & the hatchery explained that heart attacks aren't uncommon at that stage, and another who became egg-bound). Now we're down to 1 Plymouth Barred Rock, and I expect she must be lonely! I want to order chicks this spring, but am concerned about her becoming hen-pecked by them. Recommendations?

 

[Old Farm Old Lady]

Get more chickens
Your Barred Rock will not be abused or pecked on for a very long time.
(until your chicks grow to be adult) At that stage all will be living in harmony anyway. There is always a pecking order, so no telling where she will fit in.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,

Thank you! I've only added chicks once in the 5 years we've done this, and it really went pretty well - but we had more than 1 adult, so I was concerned about her being outnumbered. I'm a bit over-protective of her (she was nearly dead when she arrived as a chick - kept her in my shirt all day next to my heart, and she survived). Hopefully, she'll continue to be a survivor!

 

[Old Farm Old Lady]

Welcome to BYC! In my experience, the oldest is always the top hen. Get some chicks, they'll look up to her.
Good luck!

Thank you! She's been a survivor, so hopefully she'll be the wise "Mother Hen" and settle into her role. Now to decide which breed...

 

[lazy gardener]

Check out @Blooie's thread and article about brooding chicks in the coop using the MHP cave system. It will make your integration go very well. Many of us are now integrating chicks between 3 and 10 weeks of age, and finding it goes very well, if the coop is big enough and if done correctly.

 

[Old Farm Old Lady]

Check out @Blooie's thread and article about brooding chicks in the coop using the MHP cave system. It will make your integration go very well. Many of us are now integrating chicks between 3 and 10 weeks of age, and finding it goes very well, if the coop is big enough and if done correctly.

Thanks! I'll check it out. We have a wonderful very old chicken coop (built with a cement floor) that we restored - lots of room to spare right now!

 

[cavemanrich]

kept her in my shirt all day next to my heart, and she survived). Hopefully, she'll continue to be a survivor!

 

[Old Farm Old Lady]

Thanks! I'll check it out. We have a wonderful very old chicken coop (built with a cement floor) that we restored - lots of room to spare right now!

...And Thanks Again - just read @Blooie's post as you suggested - perfect solution for us! The photo at the top of the article looks SO familiar to my sewing room a few years back - think we STILL find dust!