Lost all but one chicken to predator. Introduce new members?

[nychickenmama]

We've had a rough week and lost 4 chickens to a predator. We have one survivor. She's a year and a half old. Do you think it'd be too stressful to add new members to the flock so soon? If we wait too long, will she get upset as she gets comfortable as being the queen of her coop?

Thanks everyone.

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

In my opinion, you should get some new chicks asap. She'll have time to wind down while they get older, and after a month or so you can move their box to her coop-so they can see but not touch each other. Every once in a while you could maybe hold the pullets near her or let them walk, so she gets to interact, but not letting her touch them. Eventually you can take the box out. For a few days there will be pecking, to determine their places on the pecking order, but there shouldn't be serious injuries. (If there are though, remove the chicken immediately!)
We did this to introduce four into my flock of three. The younger gals are at the bottom of the pecking order,but they all get along well enough.
Your hen will get lonely and sad if she's alone; chickens are social creatures. You should always try to have three at a time.

 

[chickens really]

Get some more Chickens...Put her in a look no touch pen for a few days and then let them figure out a pecking order....

 

[nychickenmama]

Thanks everyone. There's a local farm selling 10 week old pullets we are thinking of getting and adding to our flock. After reading various articles and forums, I've heard just a few days of the look no touch pen, to a few weeks. Does this adjustment time simply vary depending on the temperament of the existing flock?

 

[chickens really]

Thanks everyone. There's a local farm selling 10 week old pullets we are thinking of getting and adding to our flock. After reading various articles and forums, I've heard just a few days of the look no touch pen, to a few weeks. Does this adjustment time simply vary depending on the temperament of the existing flock?

Yes, it depends on the older Hen...The pullets will not fight her...

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

It varies more with how the first hen deals with them. When you let them out, they're at her mercy, so she needs to be comfortable.
Check the pullets over before getting them. You don't want to add sick chickens to an already stressed coop.

 

[nychickenmama]

This is my worry. She is our fiercest hen...perhaps why she survived... But I think it also may cause problems introducing new members to her space.

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

Not a lot you can do about that really. Just be sure that she's comfortable with them.

 

[chickens really]

This is my worry. She is our fiercest hen...perhaps why she survived... But I think it also may cause problems introducing new members to her space.

Her position in a flock has changed...Now she is just a Chicken..Adding a new flock will change her rank...Put her in a look no touch pen till the new Pullets have been their a few days...Then try an introduction...

 

[dunnmom]

I don't know if it's good advice or not, but when I was trying to do an integration, people suggested letting them free-range together, supervised, during the look-no-touch period. That way, they could get used to each other in a playground setting, and someone could break up fights if they occur. I wasn't able to do this because by law in my area, hens are supposed to be penned 24/7, but maybe you can do it.