Getting New Chicks for lonely Parsley?

[Spinster_Sister]

Well I have bittersweet work to do, I lost my beautiful Rosemary, yesterday and I want to get my beauty Parsley, some new companions. I know that Parsley must miss her - she is quite outside and it just seems wrong to not have another feathered friend for her.

Anyway, the closest place to get some chicks is about 30 miles away and I'm willing to do it. But, their chicks are 8 days old and 1 day olds. Parlsey is 4 months now and is a Jersey Giant....I know I can't let the baby chicks outside and alone with her, but are they too young for her? Have you heard of stories with that age difference that they actually get along well?
I am keeping Parsley inside at night with me in my bedroom. The chicks will have the bathroom as a brooder but I hope to let them interact while I am with them in the bathroom.

What do you think? Where can I get an older pullet - disease free? I checked CL and nothing....am I just making a mountain out of a molehill?

 

[HEChicken]

It would really be better if her companion were closer to her age. You could try placing a WTB ad on Craigslist? Or look on the Buy/Sell area of BYC. I would really recommend keeping a minimum of three so that if you lose one, there are still two to be company for one another so you might see if you can find a pair as companions for Parsley. If you are unable to find older hens, I would go with the 8-day olds - at least they're a week bigger and closer to her in age....

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Well I have a similar yet different thing going on and maybe it will give ya some hope. I have a full grown easter egger with a vitamin deficiency issue. I separated her from the flock so that I could give her special vitamins and treats but that left me in a pickle because chickens are social animals and how could I expect her to thrive alone? So I also had a 5 week old buff orpington that I was going to keep out of some birds that I am selling again in a pickle because that bird can't be in with my whole flock of grown birds and can't be alone. So I put the easter egger and the 5 week old together and it worked just fine. No pecking no nothing. They needed each other and I think they are really happy with what I decided for them. So even though it is not advisable to put really young birds in with grown ones it can work in the right situation. I hope you have a good result and I think that socializing them while you are supervising is a wonderful idea.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

I have 5 week olds going in with 9 week olds and they seem do be doing ok at this time but I do have them is a grow out area in my coop so they can interact yet not have to worry about the big chickens messing with them yet. but they don't even act like they care about one another so you may be ok with them getting along in the future.

Good luck and have fun with them Sorry to hear bout the one one you lost.

 

[Spinster_Sister]

Unfortunately the 8 day old chicks were gone today. I picked up two 2 day olds and they are eating and hopping around. I spent a lot of time with Parsley outside today, just preening and dusting her with DE. It is getting windy out here again and no doubt she will spend the night with me inside again. I hope she will eventually accept the two new ones, my parents seem to think that Parsley will become a "mother" to them...that could not make me happier. I am not betting on it.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who has given me kind words over the past few days...it's been rough and to make matters worse, I had to rush my cat, Libby, to her vet's office for loose and bloody BMs. She and Sufi are strictly indoor cats but Libby managed to get out for about few hours until I sang her song to come back. Now, she may have picked something up from the outside cats....not to mention our senior mini doberman.....

I'm telling you chicken people are the best - most humane humans out there.