Hi there. I would like first of all to say 'what a lovely and helpful site this is.' I am getting into this chicken keeping malarkey and currently have a flock of 12 mixed hens and have just purchased 2 orpington chicks to add to the gang. They are currently kept separated until they are old and wise enough to join the others. For now they are neighbours.
My problem is.... I am a veterinary nurse and we seem to get more and more people coming in with chickens and 'dumping' them when they get bored. I have rescued six chicks from an un-necessary lethal injection and they are happy, healthy hens! Recently I have rescued a tiny buff orpington and I have tried to introduce her to the other two orpingtons I have recently purchased with no joy! I think she is about 4 weeks old and by the looks of it my lavender orpington looks about 5-6 weeks old and my cuckoo orpington a little older still. They will not except her at all. The cuckoo one just chases her constantly and attacks her. I know there is some pecking to be expected but this is a lot! The lavender one seems to be fine with her when the cuckoo is not around so I did this for a while but the cuckoo one was getting very upset with the absence of her friend so I put her back. My little buff orpington seems very lonely by herself and follows we everywhere and sits with me and sleeps on me when I am around and seems to be very affectionate with me.....sharing my water and food and 'purrs' all the time! When I am not within eyesight.... MY GOD does she chirp! Non stop. She has a little cuddly toy duck and a blanket which seems to settle her at night.
ANY suggestions would be HUGELY appreciated. Has anybody raised a lone chicken and can it be done? Do I wait until she is a little older and re introduce her to the other two? Or just keep persisting at regular supervised times? I really can not get any more chickens as we really do not have any more room so I cannot get her a friend.
Thank you so much
Sammy....and little chickaroo xx
My problem is.... I am a veterinary nurse and we seem to get more and more people coming in with chickens and 'dumping' them when they get bored. I have rescued six chicks from an un-necessary lethal injection and they are happy, healthy hens! Recently I have rescued a tiny buff orpington and I have tried to introduce her to the other two orpingtons I have recently purchased with no joy! I think she is about 4 weeks old and by the looks of it my lavender orpington looks about 5-6 weeks old and my cuckoo orpington a little older still. They will not except her at all. The cuckoo one just chases her constantly and attacks her. I know there is some pecking to be expected but this is a lot! The lavender one seems to be fine with her when the cuckoo is not around so I did this for a while but the cuckoo one was getting very upset with the absence of her friend so I put her back. My little buff orpington seems very lonely by herself and follows we everywhere and sits with me and sleeps on me when I am around and seems to be very affectionate with me.....sharing my water and food and 'purrs' all the time! When I am not within eyesight.... MY GOD does she chirp! Non stop. She has a little cuddly toy duck and a blanket which seems to settle her at night.
ANY suggestions would be HUGELY appreciated. Has anybody raised a lone chicken and can it be done? Do I wait until she is a little older and re introduce her to the other two? Or just keep persisting at regular supervised times? I really can not get any more chickens as we really do not have any more room so I cannot get her a friend.
Thank you so much
Sammy....and little chickaroo xx
