Hello New BYC-er in Ohio.

25bengood2me

In the Brooder
10 Years
May 23, 2009
84
0
39
Ohio ~ Mid-Ohio Valley
:)My name is Marie, I'm 56, retired & my hubby is also retired.
We live on his grandad's retired farmland. we bought 54 acres of the land. We have 1 black hen left from a straight run of 6 hatchlings this past June28. A fox has systematically carried off the others.:
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: Yes, we're not the best caretakers. The door to the pen was left open each time a bird was taken.:
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NOW hubby agrees that I am allowed to be in charge of the chickens & their bedtime routines.
A friend-of -a friend is willing to give me a roo. They both hate to know my hen is alone.
My problem: my hen is claustrophobic, will not rest in the coop/run. She wants to be free. She roots in a pine tree above the coop.
SHOULD I TRY MORE CHICKENS? yes, they will be confined. Are short(3-4 hours) Daily outings OK?
 
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from Oklahoma! Yes, get more chickens - immediately! But if you choose to just get one to be company for your poor black hen, I'd suggest getting another hen instead of a rooster. Others may disagree, but I think if the rooster has only her to mate with, she could suffer from his attentions. As for the hen roosting in the tree, I'm sure after seeing all her flock-mates carried off by the fox, she knows she's safer up there. For sure predator-proof the coop and lock her in there at night. As for just letting them out 3-4 hours a day to free range, I think that's fine. That's how I do my chickens. My little flock has an enclosed run attached to the coop, so they can go there any time, but I only let them out onto the grass for a few hours a day. You're going to LOVE your chickens and you'll do GREAT! I'm glad you found BYC - you'll learn tons here. Good luck and WELCOME!!
 

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