down to one hen

[RiChicken420]

lost 16 hens from a mink was left with a hen and rooster after the 2nd attacks well my rooster has just died now having one hen will she ok on her own I think i fixed all problem areas thinking maybe I should rehouse her to different smaller coop afraid to lose her if i missed a spot id bring her in the house but my wife said no

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

You should get her other chickens since they are flock animals and do better with more of their own kind. Place a mirror until you can get more birds.

 

[Perris]

sorry for your loss @RiChicken420
A_fowl_guy's advice is good - including a mirror as a temporary fix.

 

[RiChicken420]

You should get her other chickens since they are flock animals and do better with more of their own kind. Place a mirror until you can get more birds.

put mirror in her coop but decided to take her in the basement don't want to risk losing her it gives me the time to be sure its sealed right for when the new ones come in the mail i got her 17 chicks but she wasn't much of a broody hen would think she will adopt the chicks as her own I'm thinking she will seeing she has no coopmates but heard of hens killing chicks

 

[Henriettaah]

They have to be broody first to rather than the other way round

 

[Callender Girl]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Mink are devilish creatures that seem to kill for sport. I MIGHT be more understanding if they killed to eat.

My lone mink attack survivor was skittish for a while but eventually recovered to her sassy old self. It took a while, but she finally accepted a pair of young pullets as coop mates.

If I were you, I probably would have also put my hen in the basement. It's hard to feel safe enough after a predator attack.

Can you separate her from the new chicks in the coop? When I am trying to introduce new, younger birds, I often use a coated wire dog kennel so everyone can see -- and touch each other just a little bit -- until they feel comfortable together. Or, if you have the luxury of separate coops, house them that way and let them get used to each other in adjoining runs or temporary pens. None of my mature hens seemed thrilled to get youngsters as new roommates.

In any case, it sounds like you are taking good care of your girl. Good luck.

 

[Mrs. K]

Just because she is lonely, she will not welcome the new chicks at first. Do the see but separate set up. As the chicks grow, change their spots with the big hen. However, the shear number of chicks will help with the introduction. Don't keep them separate for a long period of time, may be a week, switch them, and then set up a safe zone.

Get her back outside, fresh air and sunshine are important to chickens.

I too, have been hit by mink, and it is sickening.

Mrs K