New, with a rescue! Please advise and help!

[TandyRanch9]

Hello there. I'm new to all this and in need of advise. I'll start with a short version of my story. A few weeks ago, while on a walk, my friend and I came upon a chicken being attacked by a dog. We rescued her of course, and my friend, who already had chickens, took her home. She was quickly rejected by the flock and attacked, leaving her worse off than when we found her ...and so begins my adventure. My husband and I are currently building a coop and run and I hope to bring her home this week.
Now for my question! What is the best way to build my flock with a grown hen already established? I'm going to give her some time to heal and be healthy before I get a few more, my coop is 4'x4' with a 4x10+/- run and I plan to let them run when we are out there but not full time because we have a large pool and garden(any advise on this would be great too). I know that won't house many chickens but I only plan on having maybe 3 or 4 at the most. Should I buy babies and raise them up with her or buy grown hens and introduce them?
I know chickens are flock animal and I don't want her to be lonely but I couldn't stand for her to be rejected and attacked again. Thank you for your time and wisdom!!!

 

[countrygirl345]

Being first there, she will probably be dominant over any new chickens, which changes things up a bit. Sometimes you just have to put them together and let them establish a pecking order.

 

[BirdsOfAnarchy]

Great job rescuing that little hen. Countrygirl is right. They will figure it out. Welcome to the wonderful world of chickens! They are so awesome and super entertaining.

Do you know what breed she is? Post a photo if you can. Some breeds are friendlier than others and easier to integrate.

Personally I don't deal with chicks, they are adorable but I like eggs so I don't like waiting around for a return! If I were you Id find her a nice pullet to befriend. I have light brahmas, a dark cornish, black cochin roo and recently added red stars, they all get along great. The first day was rough when the red headed step children joined the flock but it was all good by the following morning.

 

[TandyRanch9]

here is my gal, I call her Boopsie. She is a Barred Rock, yes? or Plymoth? or something like that.

 

[BirdsOfAnarchy]

Hmmm, I think Plymouths have larger combs and I don't think they have dark tail feathers. Im not sure of the breed but she is a pretty little thing.

 

[TandyRanch9]

Thanks to both of you for the response. I guess I'll keep trying to figure out what breed she is as well.

I'm so excited to bring her home and build my a lil chicky chick family!

 

[biga]

barred rock is a plymouth rock and that chicken is neither from what i've seen. couldn't tell you what it IS though.

as far as introducing chickens, go to the learning section of the forum, there's a long read on doing it. the short answer is: raise chicks until they are close to similar size. then put them in a coop together but separated so they can see each other but not kill each other. let them hang out for a few weeks like that and then mix them. they'll fight a bit for sure, but after a few days they'll be fine.

 

[HerbanChicks]

I agree with Biga, we are currently going through this as I took in a chicken (sight unseen) who I was told was same age as my girls (around 3-4 months spread out over the group) and when I got her, holy cow.. she's huge, completely fully grown and there is no way she is even close to the age the lady thought. So now I have this fully grown hen and my girls... it's been rough going so far and I've been keeping her split away for now so the other girls can grow up a little more and catch up to her size-wise so it'll atleast be a fair fight.
As far as breed, she looks like she could possibly be silver laced wyandotte.

 

[lazy gardener]

Herban Chicks is right. She's a lovely little silver laced Wyandotte. She has a rose comb, and will do very well in cold weather because of it. Enjoy your new hobby. Your new coop set up should not include more than 4 chickens.