Hen in mourning, need advice....

[WB4IUY]

We have (had) two pet chickens, Emma and Patti. They were siblings, quiet, peaceful and loving. They spend part of every day, putzing around the yard, sitting on the front porch, and being petted. Since chickens are social, I should have seen this coming...I talked of getting another in the event something ever happened to one of them. Well, we lost Emma yesterday and Patti is mourning heavily. Don't want to get off next or come out, making a little puttering noise when I talk to her.

What should I do to help her?

Dave

 

[ILoveDaffy]

Get her another hen. Not much else to do.

 

[WB4IUY]

I got a young hen to bring in as a friend for my Patti. I put them in the same pen, but have them separated by a screen wire barrier so they can see each other. The new hen is pacing and fussy. How long do y'all keep them separated like that, before allowing them to come together?

 

[aart]

I got a young hen to bring in as a friend for my Patti. I put them in the same pen, but have them separated by a screen wire barrier so they can see each other. The new hen is pacing and fussy. How long do y'all keep them separated like that, before allowing them to come together?

How is Patti acting?
Does the new bird have her own coop too?

Here's some tips about....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/