Looking for advice

[Duckydos]

I had a small flock of 3 chickens, and last week a falcon took one of my chickens and left another one badly injured which led to me having to put her to sleep. Im left with one chicken, and have been looking around for older chicks ( 7+ weeks) that I could slowly integrate with her. Ive been working on the installing netting so Ive been holding off on getting them until it was done. Over the past few days my remaining hen is becoming broody. Laying on her eggs for about 4 hrs a day. My guess is because shes not able to free range as much since im trying to keep her alive, and shes alone. I was wondering if you would try getting chicks and sneaking them under her and letting her attempt to raise them or should I stick to the plan of getting older chicks? Also, Ive never integrated new chickens to just a flock of one, but im assuming the process would be the same as far as keeping them separated for a few weeks after the quarentine period is over, then letting them see each other throughout a fence for a week or so and then supervised visits? Im working as fast as I can to get the netting up since I feel bad that she is all alone. Id love to hear thoughts!

 

[fluffycrow]

There was recently another poster on here in a similar situation.
If she really is going broody, then she has given you a great opportunity to add to the flock of one!

Letting her raise chicks on her own is likely to be much smoother in terms of integration, as opposed to introducing juveniles to her. It’s also safer (usually), from a bio security standpoint.
She will not need any other members to be content, if that is what you’re asking. She’ll be preoccupied with caring for them while they’re young, and should mingle with them quite peacefully once she stops mothering them.

Now the question is, if you want a broody.
First you’ll want to know if she’s actually committed to the part. The test for most people is if the bird in question spends two or three consecutive nights in the nest. A lot of mine are nest sleepers, so I try to observe their commitment and behaviour throughout the day as well.
Another thing is, you might not know the gender of the chicks. If you’re planning on placing sexed day old chicks under her, that will not be much of a problem.

If you’ve decided that the broody is the way to go, then you will need to wait some more.
While every broody is different, and even the same hen might differ in behaviour from one brooding cycle to another, giving day old chicks to a fresh broody isn’t a good idea; it’s likely that she’ll reject them.
I would wait as close to the 21 day mark as I could, counting from the day she starts sitting consistently. Keep dummy or infertile eggs under her so that she doesn’t break (the latter might break and make a mess of the nest, so what of the two you choose is up to you).

After that time has passed, she will naturally be expecting chicks, and is likely to be much more receptive of any that get placed under her.
Unfortunately, we or you can’t predict with absolute certainty how she will act until you try it. Most of the times it goes very well, but I have had it go bad.

If you decide not to let her sit, then yes, integration works quite similarly. After quarantine is over for the juveniles, place them in a separate area, where they are able to view but can’t touch eachother. After about two to three weeks (that is what works best for me), let them have supervised interactions. I do not expect any mature hen to be extremely friendly with a teen, but as long as they tolerate eachother, and none get hurt and/or bullied, it is usually fine. Make sure to have more than one feeding and watering station available, so that the newbies don’t get bullied out of eating.

Good luck!

 

[Duckydos]

Thank you for all the helpful information! She definitely isn't fully broody yet. She still is roosting at night and is out of the nesting box for hours at time. In previous years she has become broody so there is a good chance she will get there. I would love to go the route of getting sexed chicks to give to her but I'll have to wait and see what she ends up doing.

 

[fluffycrow]

Thank you for all the helpful information! She definitely isn't fully broody yet. She still is roosting at night and is out of the nesting box for hours at time. In previous years she has become broody so there is a good chance she will get there. I would love to go the route of getting sexed chicks to give to her but I'll have to wait and see what she ends up doing.

Sounds good. Having eggs in the nest might encourage her to sit, if she’s already thinking about it. Her having broody history will also help.
Hope it works out, please keep us updated!

 

[Mrs. K]

Pile some "eggs' in the nest - golf balls, sometimes that will flip the switch. If she goes broody - get the freshest chicks possible, if she doesn't, get chicks 3-4 weeks old. If there are hideouts, and escape routes, and a safety zone, chicks are quick as lightening, and a couple of them will keep her from targeting g one or two.
Mrs k