Esther Hoffman Howard-a one chicken flock

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lilkriket

lilkriket

Hatching
10 Years
Jun 24, 2009
3
0
7
Hi! I only have one wonderful chicken, Esther... nobody told me that chicks are such needy babies! (she's a year old now) But I loved every second of her baby days, even let sleep with me! I built her a lovely coop, but the transition to making her an outdoor chicken may be impossible! Turns out she's afraid of the dark and can't seem to see in it at all! Even when I can still see, by low light, she can't. I found out this winter that she is not a fan of the snow, so she was indoors all winter. What a crazy, wonderful experience this has been so far! I love that wierd little chicken as much as she drives me nuts!
I'd love to find some other people who have one chicken and maybe know the mysteries and strangeness of it all! There are things I do not understand about this silly bird and "challenges" I have because of and with her. I can't imagine life w/o her!!!
 
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None of them can see in the dark, and they often seem afraid of the dark when first put in a coop, but they adjust in a few days, and sleep til dawn.
 
Chickens cant see in the dark at all, that why they have to be locked in a preditor proof coop. I only have 5 chickens, and they allways go in the coop well before dark. Good luck with your chicken it sounds like you have a great bond with her.
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My experienced opinion is that you are having difficulties because she is a single chicken.
Chickens are flock animals. They should not ever be kept alone. No matter how much time you spend with her, she knows you are not another chicken.
She is confused because you have raised her indoors and now expect her to live outdoor where a whole new set of rules apply (i.e.; roosting outside versus sleeping inside in a cage or whatnot).
Also, birds cannot see in the dark with the exception of Owls and other night predatory birds. This is why chickens are so much more quiet in the night-time and why you can handle them easier at night.

My advice would be to buy a "Point Of Lay" pullet or older hen from someone who houses chickens normally, better yet, get two of them. Bring them home and put them into your coop. Don't let them have any contact with Esther for about 2 months while you practice good biosecurity. Keep Esther inside during this time.
Then at the end of that time when you are sure that the new hens have nothing wrong with them medically, add Esther to the mix and let the normal hens show her how to function and live like she should be.

Alot of people want to have chickens as pets and I think it can work as long as those people understand that chickens ultimately are a livestock animal and they need all of their needs met, including their need for companionship. To deny them flock mates IMO is akin to denying them air, food, or water.

No major harm done, just try and fix it for Esther
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Welcome to BYC.
 

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