New hen...

[foamspoon]

Someone at work came up to me and told me how his father has a lone RIR hen less then a year show up in his backyard and wont leave. No one knows where it came from. He asked me if I wanted her. My RIRs are 6 months old. Will they accept her in the "pose"? He also says her beak has been "clipped" would that effect anything?

What are everyones opinions?

Bryan

 

[lurky]

I would put the bird in a cage to introduce her and get them to know eachother. Try them together when you can be there and see how it goes. I read somewhere that its best to add the new bird to the flock at night and let them wake up together. I would be sure i was going to be around in case it did not go well. I think they will work it out. I have a big rabbit cage and if i were in your shoes, thats what i would try. Maybe some people can offer better ways to try. Either way, Good Luck!!!

 

[justusnak]

Well..because the hen just "showed up" you have no idea if she is sick...or infested with mites/lice. You should quarantine her from your birds at least 30 days. ( dureing this time worm her, and delouse her) Then, put her in the coop, in a seperate cage...for a few weeks. If possible, run a chicken wire wall between them. After a few weeks...I would just open the wall....at roost time...let them mingle. Good luck with her.

 

[Standard Hen]

Geeezzzz, I never have chickens just show up at my house.
And agree with the other two posters, make sure she is not sick first before mixing her in.

 

[speckledhen]

You really need to keep her separate to observe her, give her good food and dust her, maybe even worm her, since you dont know where she came from.
I agree-I never have stray chickens just show up! Everybody else has all the luck!