Last of a Legacy - what is the right thing to do?

[Aunt Bea's Egg]

After 18 years of joyfully raising poultry, I am simplifying for retirement and am now down to my sole aged hen. What is the right thing to do - I cannot rehome her -she is being treated for scaly leg mite and have concerns if the stress of rehoming would be detrimental? I am in the coop daily - twice a day, and my dogs' run is adjacent to her run. I work at home so there is contact and conversation daily.
1. Can I rest at ease if I keep her entertained and see no self-destructive behavior changes?
2. Warmth - she is very heavily feathered - the densest downy layer with a beautiful full feathered top coat I have ever seen on a chicken. So, what do I need to change if anything, now that she does not have her flock mate? The coop is insulated and cleaned daily. I supplement heat when temps drop below 18 degrees.

I have seen comment of bringing a chicken into the house. Not so sure of this but it is a possibility - What would that set up be?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

After 18 years of joyfully raising poultry, I am simplifying for retirement and am now down to my sole aged hen. What is the right thing to do - I cannot rehome her -she is being treated for scaly leg mite and have concerns if the stress of rehoming would be detrimental? I am in the coop daily - twice a day, and my dogs' run is adjacent to her run. I work at home so there is contact and conversation daily.
1. Can I rest at ease if I keep her entertained and see no self-destructive behavior changes?
2. Warmth - she is very heavily feathered - the densest downy layer with a beautiful full feathered top coat I have ever seen on a chicken. So, what do I need to change if anything, now that she does not have her flock mate? The coop is insulated and cleaned daily. I supplement heat when temps drop below 18 degrees.

I have seen comment of bringing a chicken into the house. Not so sure of this but it is a possibility - What would that set up be?

Hi, welcome to BYC! (even if it's been a while)

I see your dilemma. Both sorry that journey is coming to an end and happy for your new adventure!

Not sure if it's the right thing or not... but ya, I would probably try bringing her in the house. They even make chicken diapers. But I wouldn't make it full time. Access to outdoors is good for many reasons.

Really scaly leg mites isn't a deal breaker if it's disclosed and the people maintain any sort of biosecurity.

You mention stress being a factor for not rehoming, how old is she? I feel like human interaction is nice but some will thrive while other may become depressed. They are such individuals.

And not to seem uncaring.. but allowing another family to harvest the meat instead of letting the girl decline with age and not have a friend might be just as humane. We process our extra boys but send the hens to another family once they reach a certain point. Though I know they will be eaten, they lived a good life with only a couple quick bad moments.

Good luck!

 

[centrarchid]

She will do fine under conditions described.

 

[azygous]

I wouldn't rehome her or alter her life style. She's probably content being adjacent to the dogs as long as she can see them. Solitary chickens can adapt to being content with another species for company. The important thing is she has soil to scratch in, that being the One Big Thing in a chicken's life, and she can dirt bathe when she feels like it. She can't do that inside a house.

Rehoming your hen would introduce so much stress into her life, being with a flock wouldn't be worth it, and it could make her miserable trying to fight her way into a new social order.

I have several elderly hens, and they mainly lounge around all day on cushions I made out of empty feed sacks filled with straw. When the sun hits the run, they manage to haul themselves off their lounges and dirt bathe. They are the perfect image of contentment. I wouldn't think of changing that even if there was just one left.

 

[Aunt Bea's Egg]

Thank you all. With consideration, I have decided to keep Hattie on her own at home, giving her special attention and care.
Here is a great link I have found for great information on poultry:
https://afs.ca.uky.edu/poultry/poultry-publications