Lonely hen

[wood_sorrel]

Does anyone know how well one hen can fare on her own? We just lost her sister to a fox yesterday.

She is eating but "cries" and doesn't seem herself.

She did a lay an egg today.

Poor thing.

I just feel so badly about losing our sweet Henrietta...

 

[loppylou]

So sorry for you loss that's terrible. I'm quite new to keeping chickens but from what iv read and been told they get lonely and depressed on their own as they are flock animals and like to be kept in a group. Maybe you should think about getting some more? Or giving her to a friend who has hens? Poor lady

 

[wood_sorrel]

Thank you so much for your reply. We have found a place that will take her. They have a large flock of chickens and a rooster. Would really rather keep our girl- looking for a new friend for her. Sometimes she seems okay on her own, especially if we're outside with her. She scratches, dust bathes, and just seems normal. But in the morning she makes a sad sad cry. I am new to all of this too. Just got our hens 2 years ago... thought they were safe! Now I know to make sure they are locked in the run every night.

 

[loppylou]

I have 7 at the moment but expanding very shortly. We live in a villiage but are surrounded by houses so my chickens are fairly safe only the neighbours cats to worry about however I go out every night and count them make sure they are all in. We have a little silkie who tends to fall asleep outside and then panicks when she wakes and relises the other have gone in without her. It's a shame but don let it put you off keeping them as they are lovely to have and fun to watch

 

[wood_sorrel]

Hi Loppylou,

Thank you for your reply. It sounds like you have a nice set-up there. So sweet about your little silkie falling asleep outside the coop. Well, I have an update- posted it in another thread, but not sure if it was the right place to post, so her goes:



I really need some advice. Our full grown (2 year old) chicken (Barred Rock) is all alone. Her sister was eaten by a fox we think. Anyway, we found someone who is selling a 7 week old Barred Rock hen, and we'd like to get her as a companion for our lonely girl.

I have a few questions.

First, is a 7 week old chicken old enough to be outside in an enclosed run and eat the same food as our older girl- we feed her organic egg laying pellets?

Or do we need to get her some kind of special food?

Secondly, how do we go about introducing them?

I know that there is a strong likelihood that they'll need to be separated because the big hen will pick on the little one.

We have a cage (dog carrier) that we were going to put the little one in and place it next to the run with our big girl until they get used to each other.

How long will it be until the 7 week old reaches full size and lays eggs?

Thank you in advance for any help. Am quite new to this, except that we've been raising out adult Barred Rocks for two years. Just don't know how to deal with introducing a new hen, and the special needs of a 7 week old hen.

MANY THANKS!!