Lonely Hen

[knottydoll]

I had 4 chicks from a dayold and unfortunately 3 turned out to be roosters!!!They ahve all found new homes and so I am eagerly waiting for 4 new chicks....almost guaranteed to be layers!. My question is how do I keep my 12 week old hen from getting lonely and bored and how do I introduce the new girls into the pen (obviously when they are old enough) . I am new to this and my first foray into chicken territory has been somewhat eventful!
Any advice would be gratefully received
Thanks:/

 

[The Zoo]

I'd like to know this as well. I may have to rehome the rooster (unintentional rooster) in one of my 'pairs' if the neighbors complain when he starts crowing. That would leave Tikka all alone with two hens who are a year older than she is. I'm afraid she will be terribly lonely. I don't want to have to buy a new chick since she's already 17 weeks old and probably wouldn't bond with it.

What does one do with a solitary chicken?

 

[Buugette]

I am in the same boat... looks like my second silkie is a roo as well, leaving my sweet little polish bantam alone. I'm devestated... I only had 3 to begin with. I have a home for my buff, but now will need to find a home for my white silkie, and not sure how to go about getting another hen without risking more roos. I don't want the number needed to order via the mail, and to be honest, I don't think my post office would cooperate. Don't think they have ever received chickens before.

My local feed mill won't have chicks again till next May and that leaves my Wilamena alone a long time. I can't in good conscious put her out in the coop alone, as all three are still in the house with me and spoiled rotten.

I would love to maybe trade with someone local, but everyone seems so far away.

D

 

[Quack Shack]

Darn. Lonely chicks out there needing love. I think as long as they aren't left alone all day, they will adjust to it and then be grateful when they do get a companion. So sad. I do hope that you all will find a friend because two is always better. Wish I could help but I'm miles away.

 

[SussexInSeattle]

I think Craigslist may be the answer for all of you. Search under "Farm and Garden" using the keyword CHICKS and see what that returns to you. Then go through those ads in search of chicks that are a similar age to the single chick you now have.

In the case of the person who had pairs but now has a single while you also have another pair, introduce your single to your other pair through fence for a couple days then join them all as one flock. As long as you are not breeding and using a rooster, there is no need to keep your chickens seperated. All my chickens run as one flock and I have 5 different ages and 10 different breeds running together.

 

[knottydoll]

Thank you to everyone to replied . Amy will be pleased to here there are lots of people who care about her happiness!!. I wil be spending so much more time with her now and daughter will be so happy to have a legitimate excuse to "chicken sit" .....even more than she does now.

 

[cmom]

I quarantine my birds for at least a month before I put them together. I keep them far enough apart for no contact but close enough so they can see each other. I integrate my birds when they are free ranging with plenty of treat. I have had a couple of bully hens but all is well now and they have worked out their pecking order.

 

[The Zoo]

Quote:
They are all out there together and have been for a while now. Tikka and Masala just hit 17 weeks and Over and Easy are a year and a half now. Over and Easy don't 'bond' with Tikka and if I have to get rid of Masala then I know Tikka will be wandering the backyard all by herself and roosting at night by herself. It just makes me sad she won't have a friend any more.