Lonely Hen

[bobbie girl]

Hi!
After raising a flock of hens for seven years, only one girl is left. She's very healthy and is still laying eggs (surprisingly). I was wondering if I should keep her by herself or give her to another flock.
I've talked with a vet who said it would be too much stress for her to be integrated into a new flock, but she seems very lonely. She bawks like a rooster as though trying to communicate with the chickens who live a quarter mile away, and she spends a lot of time in her nesting box. I feel likes it's cruel to keep her on her own.
I've read so much mixed information on this topic. She's not free range so she gets bored a bit easier. What do you guys suggest? Can she handle the stress?

 

[Mrs. K]

Chickens hate change. So any change is going to be hard on her. The question is what do you want? 7 years is an old chicken, no way around that, and she has to be approaching the end of her life. You may very well go out one day, and she has died in her sleep. And then you would be done with chickens.

The other option is to get some chicks. Do not expect her to be thrilled with them. She won't be, more than likely she will be cranky and a bit mean. However, you can keep them separated from her, but visible for a while, then make a set up with a one size gate, small enough that the chicks can get through, but the bigger chicken cannot.

The advantage is, that when you lose the older bird, you will still have a flock. Eventually a flock will form with the older and younger birds. But it won't happen over night, and it can be brutal until it does happen.

You need to answer this with your long term goals.

Mrs K

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Chickens hate change. So any change is going to be hard on her. The question is what do you want? 7 years is an old chicken, no way around that, and she has to be approaching the end of her life. You may very well go out one day, and she has died in her sleep. And then you would be done with chickens.

The other option is to get some chicks. Do not expect her to be thrilled with them. She won't be, more than likely she will be cranky and a bit mean. However, you can keep them separated from her, but visible for a while, then make a set up with a one size gate, small enough that the chicks can get through, but the bigger chicken cannot.

The advantage is, that when you lose the older bird, you will still have a flock. Eventually a flock will form with the older and younger birds. But it won't happen over night, and it can be brutal until it does happen.

You need to answer this with your long term goals.

Mrs K

X 2 - this is that point where it's time to decide whether you want to continue on in having chickens or not.

 

[Mrs. K]

You know, I thought of one more option. You might look around and get one older bird. Maybe someone has some that they need to cull to make room for younger birds. Adding a single bird to a single bird can be a bit rough, but not as rough as adding a single bird to a flock. I think that would kill her.

But if you have some hide outs, some escape places, and enough space, I think that adding one older bird might be the best option. Your bird would have the home court advantage, but her age is a minus. The new bird would be younger (2-3 year old bird), and a stranger.

They may not be friends instantly, they probably won't... but they might in a couple of days get along.

However, with the age of your own chicken, more than likely, you will soon be back in the same position you are now.

 

[bigbruce]

40 years experience raising chickens here.Chicks are not a good idea it's likely she won't like them at her age.Shes an old girl just let her live out her days where she's at

 

[bobbie girl]

I don't plan on getting any more hens because I'll be moving in a year or two. She's been on her own for a few weeks now, and I thought I would be able to keep her. But in the last few days, she has been acting strange. She sits in her nesting box and is unresponsive until I physically move her and she is forced to walk around. Could introducing her to a new flock really kill her, as Mrs. K said?