Keeping a single chicken

[critterlover]

When I picked up my 9 chicks a couple of months ago they gave me 1 Polish that had been sent with the order. I thought no problem they are all babies and will grow up together. Everything was fine until they were about 5 weeks old and I found her one day and they had pecked her on her back just above her tail feathers. She was seperated and treated with blu kote. The other girls went out into the new coop. The Polish has been living in the house and her feathers have grown back and has made a full recovery.

I have tried to find her a home with someone who has other Polish with no success. She has always been a little nervous since I got her and I tried to reintroduce her when everyone went out into the coop (since it was new surroundings) and she was so defensive which led to the others trying to peck her again. I know she is lonely in the house by herself even though I have her in a large 4' x 2' homemade cage and I visit her often.

I would still like to find her a new home, but she will stay with me if I can't. The big question is, will she be able to survive on her own outside in a small coop and run if we make her one? I am worried about the winter time since she will not have another chicken to snuggle with.

Does anyone keep a single chicken? I LOVE animals and want to do what is best for her. These are my first chickens, so is it cruel to keep her as a single?

 

[KinderKorner]

I've had that problem. Polish always seem to have trouble. I've went through nearly 25 Polish Chicks this year and only 1 is surviving. They are weak, and picked on. Poor little things.

If it was me. I would buy some silkie or bantam haching eggs ASAP and hatch her a little friend. Or you could find someone to sell you a smaller less aggressive chicken. Lonely chickens are sad chickens.

 

[critterlover]

Yes, I did debate on getting her a Polish chick, but not sure how she would react or if SHE would then pick on a baby. I gather a Silkie is a gentle breed. My Polish is 10 weeks old now. Would she accept a chick?

 

[Mahlzeit]

I am on long island I have 3 young polish chicks about 7 weeks old. If you were still looking to find her a home I might be interested in her. I could put her with them this way they are a little younger and smaller but still similar in age where they could become friends. Let me know. Hope she's doing well. What coloring is she?

 

[critterlover]

She is buff.

I am still trying to decide what I want to do, but I appreciate your offer and will keep it in mind. I am in northern CT and you would be a good 4 hr drive though. Not that I wouldn't love to see the Hamptons, but a long way to go.

 

[Emzyyy]

What about getting another Polish to keep her company? I have 3 Polish who get along pretty well and a German Spitzhauben who also has the tophat. Or could you try separating her with one of the chickens you already have so she would have a buddy and then maybe reintroduce both of them and maybe it would work out better?