one chicken died

[smilingdiva]

Hi there, im new to this site, but just need some advice....We have 2 chickens in our garden, they have a large coop with space to run around in & they are let out regulary. However yesterday one passed away. They were both happy the day before & eating etc, but it had obviously died in it's sleep. However i was wondering if the chicken that is left will now feel lonely without its friend? Will it be happy? Or will she need a new friend? Any help/advice on this would be most appreciated.

 

[tiffanyh]

Sorry for your loss.

Your chicken is definately going to need a friend to stay happy!

 

[smilingdiva]

Thanks for that, i'll have to get searching. Do you know if a new chicken will therefore have to be of the same age as the one i've got?

 

[jjthink]

Does not have to be of the same age. She'll definitely feel much better with a friend. Thank you

 

[smilingdiva]

Thanks for the advice. I shall get looking around my local area. they were from our neighbours as she had 5 chickens at one point & asked if we wanted 2, so i shall check with them where they got them from & go in search for a new friend!

 

[Windy Ridge]

They don't need to be the same age, but they should be more or less the same size.

When you bring a new chicken into your flock, you will also want to keep her quarantined for a while (three weeks or so) to make sure she's not sick. Even people who keep very good care of their chickens can send you a healthy bird and then have the stress of the move cause her to fall victim to something she normally would have fought off. For instance, I'm trying to find someone to take one of my RIR hens, and even though she's perfectly healthy and I don't have any disease in my flock, I would recommend to anyone taking her to quarantine her, too.

When you introduce your girls, you'll want to do it slowly until they get used to one another. After the quarantine period, put them in a place where they can see one another without being able to physically contact one another for a few days.

Good luck; I hope you find another good bird.

 

[hencackle]

I'm sorry for your loss.
If you have trouble finding another chicken, be sure to post your request in the Buy..Sell..Trade..Giveaway section. Don't forget to list your city, state.

 

[smilingdiva]

Thank you all so much for your helpful advice. I shall remember these pointers & put them in force when we get another chicken.

This is such a friendly, helpful forum.... thanks again.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Sorry for your loss...
One quick note...most chickens like chickens that look like them so if you get a bird with a beard or feathered feet, and the other one doesn't the bearded/booted bird may have it's feathers picked...
My Leghorn picked the sparse footfeathers on her Brahma buddy and does the same with her new Silkie buddy too.

 

[sammi]

IMHO...you should try and figure out why the hen died..so you don't lose another.

please describe any droppings..(color and consistency)

what ALL do you feed?
how old was the hen?
was she ever wormed?
have they been treated for mites?
was she laying?
when did she last lay?
did she seem thin or light when you found her?
did her crop seem big or hard?

what bedding are you using?
is the coop enclosed?
when was it last cleaned?