Helping our last chicken through the cold next month and thru new bird introductions?

[xiggystardust]

An unexpected recent predator attack has left us with one chicken. The remaining chicken has always been the most tense in temperament... pulls her own feathers out, real stiff if we pick her up. I am worried that with the recent maybe traumatic loss of her last flock mate, and incoming cold, that it will be really hard on her.

I am hoping to acquire some new birds in the next few weeks but as I understand, with quarantine and the introduction period, it will mean she’s going to be alone for at least the next month and possibly through a molt.

My question is... what can I do that could help her though this? Would keeping her in our garage (I’m thinking less stress from cold) help or make stress worse? And, are there options for a somehow foreshortened introduction of new flock members in a pinch?

 

[Shezadandy]

An unexpected recent predator attack has left us with one chicken. The remaining chicken has always been the most tense in temperament... pulls her own feathers out, real stiff if we pick her up. I am worried that with the recent maybe traumatic loss of her last flock mate, and incoming cold, that it will be really hard on her.

I am hoping to acquire some new birds in the next few weeks but as I understand, with quarantine and the introduction period, it will mean she’s going to be alone for at least the next month and possibly through a molt.

My question is... what can I do that could help her though this? Would keeping her in our garage (I’m thinking less stress from cold) help or make stress worse? And, are there options for a somehow foreshortened introduction of new flock members in a pinch?

Chicks that have never been on anyone else's ground (i.e. in a brooder) or from a hatchery ... the bummer is the shipping charges and minimum quantities- mypetchicken.com has reasonably low minimums, other hatcheries might now be able to do the same thing, haven't looked into that for a while. The other bummer with starting with chicks is of course the weather depending where you are- because the point is to keep her company - so it would have to be a safe warm brooder in a spot where she can see and hear them but not get to them while they grow. So it's a balancing act especially this time of year between starting with babies or going thru the quarantine process.

The other very important job is to find where the predator got in and of course fix it so it cannot happen again, because now it knows where to find dinner and will return for more.

 

[xiggystardust]

Thanks for the reply. I’m not planning on starting with chicks, hoping to get hens from various contacts!

 

[MysteryChicken]

How many birds did you begin with? It's important to have more then two, so if you lose 1-2 you still have chickens, & not leave the remaining bird, alone, & depressed.

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes, you can start over with birds. And while there is a real risk in bringing in birds, you only have one bird that you are risking. To me, (maybe not to you) if you have a very expensive flock, I would never risk adding birds, but I have frequently added birds to my flock without a problem. BUT

• Do not add anything you feel sorry for
• Do not add birds, you picked up at an auction - God alone, knows what they have been exposed to.
• Do not add birds from multiple sources.
• Do not add birds from people that go to shows and fairs.

But if you can find someone, in a similar set up, that has a few birds to spare, and they are healthy and active, I would take them and add them directly. To me, healthy looks healthy. Bright eyes, active, eating well are good signs. Can you have a wreck, yes, you can, but you are not risking a whole flock.

Also, chickens hate change - I would not move them to a garage. Keep her where she is. Add birds sooner than later.

Mrs K

 

[Wesofox]

I’m in your same spot. We have 1 survivor, an 8 mo. old Orpington, and lost 3 to a predator. It’s been a ROUGH week. We ordered a new 9-10 week chicken from southern IL that arrived today. We are in northern IL. New girl will be in the garage in our little coop for a bit to quarantine and adjust. We plan on introducing the two after this “blizzard” we are supposed to get this week. Our lone Lemon seems to be doing ok. She eats from our hands and pecked at our feet. We don’t let her out unless supervised and it’s really cold. If it gets to the negative temps, we will introduce them in the garage and see how it goes. Good luck!!!