I have a single chick and i cant afford another one

[Saveria]

Found this article, super relevant here....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/5-chicken-coops-you-can-build-in-a-weekend.75525/

@pinestamara

 

[babychickens321]

build? i could yk buy one, coops are only 200 in my area, nothing i cant afford, i’m pretty upper-middle class, my father could afford her but its just that he doesnt like the idea of having chickens as pets due to the fact they might spread something or they might die


i live in a very rural town, all of my neighbors have chickens running around at this time, i decided to do it myself.

it was confirmed she isnt a rooster, shes a hen, i think shes a something rock, her breed is grey and black, barred rock i think? my store only sold hens, but i dont think anyone would mind if it was a rooster.

i dont really wanna give her up, i’ve become very attached to her

hmm
I wouldn't recommend buying a coop even if you can afford it
most pre fab coops are made out of cheap, thin wood and are not predator proof. I learnt that the hard way all the fox had to do was open the door

also few months ago had the doors and roof of mine fly off in 30mph winds.

it would be much better to make your own, cheaper and much safer for you chicken.

id also recommend (like everyone else) buying it a buddy if you're too attached to it. however I also would urge you to look into giving it another home if your dads not getting convinced enough to get another one even if you have become too attached. it would be much more natural and better for the chicken, it needs to hang out with chickens, not humans.
try begging your dad even more
in the meantime, stick a mirror on the sides of your brooder
add beanies
add a stuffed chicken toy which it probably wont be fooled by but its better than nothing
get a giant chicken that has a nest which it also might not be fooled by but it can crawl under it and on the nest for safety or comfort
I don't know if these are the best things though ^
play some comforting mama hen clucking noises for it so it is calm
again I DONT know if this will work, just saying what I might try if I was in your position
add a feather duster to hang from the ceiling of your brooder which will feel like a mama hen
make sure if its ostrich feathers or something to cut loops of the feather so it doesn't hang and get strangled by it or trapped in it

BEST OF LUCK AND I HOPE YOUR DAD ALLOWS YOU TO GET SOME BROTHERS/SISTERS FOR YOUR BABY

 

[Buckingham Palace]

hmm
I wouldn't recommend buying a coop even if you can afford it
most pre fab coops are made out of cheap, thin wood and are not predator proof. I learnt that the hard way all the fox had to do was open the door

also few months ago had the doors and roof of mine fly off in 30mph winds.

it would be much better to make your own, cheaper and much safer for you chicken.

id also recommend (like everyone else) buying it a buddy if you're too attached to it. however I also would urge you to look into giving it another home if your dads not getting convinced enough to get another one even if you have become too attached. it would be much more natural and better for the chicken, it needs to hang out with chickens, not humans.
try begging your dad even more
in the meantime, stick a mirror on the sides of your brooder
add beanies
add a stuffed chicken toy which it probably wont be fooled by but its better than nothing
get a giant chicken that has a nest which it also might not be fooled by but it can crawl under it and on the nest for safety or comfort
I don't know if these are the best things though ^
play some comforting mama hen clucking noises for it so it is calm
again I DONT know if this will work, just saying what I might try if I was in your position
add a feather duster to hang from the ceiling of your brooder which will feel like a mama hen
make sure if its ostrich feathers or something to cut loops of the feather so it doesn't hang and get strangled by it or trapped in it

BEST OF LUCK AND I HOPE YOUR DAD ALLOWS YOU TO GET SOME BROTHERS/SISTERS FOR YOUR BABY

She did get velvet a sister. I’m not sure what they called it.

 

[babychickens321]

She did get velvet a sister. I’m not sure what they called it.

oh my bad I didn't read through the whole thread or check the date

 

[Buckingham Palace]

oh my bad I didn't read through the whole thread or check the date

Dont worry. You gave a very helpful replay.

 

[Henhouse Harlot]

Yes, you are the closest thing she has to a flock. Are you planning to move to the coop with her? Spend 20+ hours a day with her for the next several years?

People can fill up on social contact be ok for hours. Chickens can't.

Oooooh.....yes.
Unless you're okay with that chicken living inside the house at liberty, and extremely attached to you....it's a good thing you got her a sister! My little chick has to go everywhere with me. Everywhere! She even sleeps by my bed. It's very cute, until I lay down for a nap.... suddenly she wants to PLAY!!! PEEEEEEEP!!!! Or, I'm up late, the next morning there she is, PEEEEEEPING in my face at sunrise!
My lone chick has a stuffed toy duck, two mirrors, and "daily face time with the flock" from beneath a protective birdcage for socializing. When she's a bit bigger, I'll try introducing her to my flock. She's doing well, but I'm tempted to get a second chick. Although that's the LAST thing I need right now!! More chickens! My lone chick came from the neighbors neglected flock*, my kid rescued it from a hen who really didn't want it. Big commitment! Also sweet, cuddly, and just DARLING!!!

* "Neglected" is a strong word. What I mean, is she let's them roam everywhere, perch anywhere (she was HORRIFIED by the idea of a chicken coop, when my partner flat out offered to build her one!!), and she feeds them only cracked corn, and leftovers. Cat food if they're lucky. The hens have a high chick mortality rate, so they usually end up with about 1-3 chicks who grow up. About a third of the chickens look like they've got scaly leg mite... Still, it's not bad enough to report. Sigh

On the bright side....
Lately all of her extra/problematic roosters have been mysteriously disappearing. It must be the coyote pack that hunts around here! Lucky my chickens sleep in a coop.