Hen living alone ?

[BusyBlonde]

We had one hen who was at the bottom of the pecking order of our large flock. I saw two other hens pinning her against the fence, plucking feathers out of her neck one day, and when I went in the pen to get them off her she shot out the door and wanted nothing more to do with the flock. She would 'patrol' our yard, and both of our neighbor's yards (my in-laws and our friends yard, 4 acres all together) by herself. In the morning before DH & I would leave for work, she'd be at the steps waiting for her AM handout, in the evenings she'd be back for her late meal. She never acted like she wanted to be back with the rest of the chickens, so we called her Rebel Chick. She wasn't a pet, or handled, but she did just fine on her own. It sounds like yours has a lovely home and has adapted well as a pet.

 

[SarahMG]

I have a hen that has to live on her own because she is severely attacked by all the other hens. (She is bow-legged, and can't defend herself.) Lady has become my baby, and is the sweetest thing ever! I carry her around with me, she'll cheep quietly while I'm holding her, and she fully trusts me. She no longer even wants to be with the other hens, really. She is in a side-by-side pen with another chicken I had to lock up (due to dominance issues), so she stil lives outside near the other hens, but she really likes hanging out with me.

 

[brooklynbirds18]

I have a hen that has to live on her own because she is severely attacked by all the other hens. (She is bow-legged, and can't defend herself.) Lady has become my baby, and is the sweetest thing ever! I carry her around with me, she'll cheep quietly while I'm holding her, and she fully trusts me. She no longer even wants to be with the other hens, really. She is in a side-by-side pen with another chicken I had to lock up (due to dominance issues), so she stil lives outside near the other hens, but she really likes hanging out with me.

That's pretty much how things were with my Ameraucana. I wouldn't say she was severely attacked tho but the others always scared her away enough so she was usually doing her own things by herself. Now being the only one here I just hope she doesn't loose her mind. She's loved being with us people and loves to come inside. We don't have a diaper for her yet so she is out a good portion of the day but I've been accompanying her.

 

[SarahMG]

That's pretty much how things were with my Ameraucana. I wouldn't say she was severely attacked tho but the others always scared her away enough so she was usually doing her own things by herself. Now being the only one here I just hope she doesn't loose her mind. She's loved being with us people and loves to come inside. We don't have a diaper for her yet so she is out a good portion of the day but I've been accompanying her.

Lady would try to run away from the other hens, but her bowed legs prevented her from moving quickly. For a long time, Lady was in a pen where she couldn't even see the other chickens. She could hear them some, but that was it. I think as long as you give her plent of attention, she'll be fine.

I think it's kind of like having a caged bird. If you have two, they'll bond with each other. If you have one, it will bond with you. I have found that to be the case with Lady. Since she coudn't bond with another chicken, she bonded with me instead.

 

[brooklynbirds18]

Well I would like to get her just one friend hoping the connection would stick. My family and I were thinking about getting me of our old hens we gave away and bring her back but the only issue is the noise. I mean the bird we have in mind can be mean to her but usually only displayed that aggression around the others. Like I said tho she can be noisy when she wants and that's not what we really need. I would love to get her a quiet hen or a bird that's just old enough to not need to live inside so they can be pals outside. It's day three and she's always by the patio door.

We let her in this morning during breakfast and she flew on the table and attacked my dads everything bagel.. We figured she wanted the seeds on it so we gave them to her but she still just wanted the bread part.. I don't mind her inside but it's not good that's the first thing she ate nor do we really want on the kitchen table.. I reply need that daiper lol

 

[SarahMG]

Haha! She sure isn't scared of you, that's for sure! I'd be careful if you brought back one of the old hens, though. She's still prone to be aggressive to the other hen, but it's worth a try. You probably could find a cheap older hen that someone wants to get rid of. There are a lot of people that usually don't keep a hen once she stops laying eggs.

 

[brooklynbirds18]

No lol she's not afraid of us.. Sometimes when we let her in she'll go on the couch and sit in between the pillows and get herself comfy. We all laugh at it. Then she scratches the fabric and lays down its too cute. She's accustomed to being in the house now I can tell, if we don't open the door for her she yells for a little bit not really like her to get loud..

I want to get her a friend soon regardless. If I could find a nice quiet hen I'd be in heaven but she's the only one I know who's quiet. I was thinking getting like a chick that no longer needs a heat lamp and can be with her. I don't think she'd get aggressive with it but it is possible.

 

[SarahMG]

Awww! She is too cute! Hey, I'd give it a try! The worst thing that would happen is that you have to keep them seperate.

 

[Lillahimed]

Your hen is adorable. I 2nd the getting a chick idea. It will probably bring out her mothering instincts

 

[brooklynbirds18]

Your hen is adorable. I 2nd the getting a chick idea. It will probably bring out her mothering instincts 

I really want to get her one.. Only thing is I know chicks can't be living outside for at least a couple of weeks and I don't want to have her living in a box with a chick. If I knew she'd keep it warm I'd let her take care of it outside.. It's just a risk tho with the weather now. I live in az but its going to get colder and colder until like January. I know it's possible she would become the top hen if I brought in a young one but she is so relaxed and welcoming I can't see her changing. She was at a ranch last week and we put in a coop with a bunch of other chicks that all around 4 months and they all attacked her so she wanted out. Lol then a horse came up to her later that day and smelled her and she didn't move and stuck her head in the horses nostril it's was too funny.

Anyways.. Any suggestions ?