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Welcome to BYC. I am so sorry about your dad.
I believe you are doing your best. I'm sorry she is alone but barring tragedy, we will all have a single chicken someday.
My only suggestion would be to put a warming, easy clean pet blanket in a nest for her during the winter.
Best of luck for you all.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC @Queeniegirl!

I am very sorry for your loss. :hugs

Keeping a lone hen depends on a few factors as to whether or not they can survive and thrive. The biggest factor being their minds, some birds are very flock oriented and some are loners. Those that need more of their kind usually pine away overtime and die from loneliness. But those that are naturally loners, usually those lowest in the pecking order get used to isolation, well those can do fairly well as a lone hen if you yourself provide them with some companionship and stimulation.

I've kept both a lone chicken hen and a male quail, and both for quite some time. (And not at the same time either). A big mirror, as tall as they are, is a wonderful thing to keep in the corner of the coop. Some birds are totally fooled, at least at first and even after they figure it out, their reflection still manages to comfort them. You will need 2 other things, a ticking clock and a radio, radio tuned to something quiet. Turn the radio on in the morning, off at bedtime, let the clock drone on and on day and night. The radio will add life to the coop and the clock will help keep her calm, it's soothing like a heart beat. Free range with her, she will not only feel relaxed not being alone, but it will strengthen her bond to you. In the winter to keep her warm on the roost bar, pad the bar with an old towel or two, use industrial staples and staple it to the bar. Get an old small pillow and attach it or tie it onto the roost bar so she can snuggle in, it will retain heat. I hand made a cloth stuffed chicken and attached it to the bar so she was sure she wasn't alone. :p Visit her often, bring a small treat, sit with her as much as you can. Read to her.

And if this situation doesn't work for you, you could always make a house chicken out of her, not the most ideal situation, however if you have areas of your house that aren't carpeted, she may do well around the family. Diapers for her are always an option.

All this said, don't just abandon her to the coop if you can't spend at least several hours a day with her doing something. If this isn't possible, maybe finding her a new home is the best for her. Best wishes!
 
TwoCrows said:
Hello and welcome to BYC @Queeniegirl!

I am very sorry for your loss. :hugs

Keeping a lone hen depends on a few factors as to whether or not they can survive and thrive. The biggest factor being their minds, some birds are very flock oriented and some are loners. Those that need more of their kind usually pine away overtime and die from loneliness. But those that are naturally loners, usually those lowest in the pecking order get used to isolation, well those can do fairly well as a lone hen if you yourself provide them with some companionship and stimulation.

I've kept both a lone chicken hen and a male quail, and both for quite some time. (And not at the same time either). A big mirror, as tall as they are, is a wonderful thing to keep in the corner of the coop. Some birds are totally fooled, at least at first and even after they figure it out, their reflection still manages to comfort them. You will need 2 other things, a ticking clock and a radio, radio tuned to something quiet. Turn the radio on in the morning, off at bedtime, let the clock drone on and on day and night. The radio will add life to the coop and the clock will help keep her calm, it's soothing like a heart beat. Free range with her, she will not only feel relaxed not being alone, but it will strengthen her bond to you. In the winter to keep her warm on the roost bar, pad the bar with an old towel or two, use industrial staples and staple it to the bar. Get an old small pillow and attach it or tie it onto the roost bar so she can snuggle in, it will retain heat. I hand made a cloth stuffed chicken and attached it to the bar so she was sure she wasn't alone. :p Visit her often, bring a small treat, sit with her as much as you can. Read to her.

And if this situation doesn't work for you, you could always make a house chicken out of her, not the most ideal situation, however if you have areas of your house that aren't carpeted, she may do well around the family. Diapers for her are always an option.

All this said, don't just abandon her to the coop if you can't spend at least several hours a day with her doing something. If this isn't possible, maybe finding her a new home is the best for her. Best wishes!
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Thank you for all that information that really helps. She never really hung out with the other chickens a lot.. she was high in ranks though. Once they started passing away she and queenie girl ( the one that just passed) hung out all the time. She even laid next to the crate I had queenie in when she died. I work from home so I am out there every half hour to give her company and my dog lays in the yard a lot so she hangs with her. I will for sure get a radio and a ticking clock . I have a mirror in there i put a few old towels on the roost bar. I have a stuffed chicken i just put on there , i have her in the nesting box till she gets used to her. If things change I will refigure her situation, I wont abandoned her promise but i also will do what’s best for her.
 
N3mesis_IceWing_NightWing said:
Welcome to BackYard Chickens, Queenie. Very sorry for your loss, hope you're doing alright...
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Thank you, I am doing ok, She was my favorite but I know they don’t last forever like we wish they did
janiedoe said:
Welcome to BYC. I am so sorry about your dad.
I believe you are doing your best. I'm sorry she is alone but barring tragedy, we will all have a single chicken someday.
My only suggestion would be to put a warming, easy clean pet blanket in a nest for her during the winter.
Best of luck for you all.
Click to expand...
thank you ? That’s a good idea never thought of that. I have a heat light I use the coop is well insulated in the winter but now she alone I’ll look into that blanket
 
Queeniegirl said:
Thank you for all that information that really helps. She never really hung out with the other chickens a lot.. she was high in ranks though. Once they started passing away she and queenie girl ( the one that just passed) hung out all the time. She even laid next to the crate I had queenie in when she died. I work from home so I am out there every half hour to give her company and my dog lays in the yard a lot so she hangs with her. I will for sure get a radio and a ticking clock . I have a mirror in there i put a few old towels on the roost bar. I have a stuffed chicken i just put on there , i have her in the nesting box till she gets used to her. If things change I will refigure her situation, I wont abandoned her promise but i also will do what’s best for her.
Click to expand...
I know it's impossible to be a chicken in her eyes, but a good caretaker/mom goes a long way for her mental health. She sounds like she has some loner in her, I think with your companionship, she will do fine! And if you ever have any questions about keeping her, send me a message in our Direct Message system, I may be able to help. 😊 Give her a hug for me! 🥰
 

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