One girl left after a big-dog massacre - I'm afraid she's lonely...

[Karen Glatz]

She is 3 years old and lived a happy life with her 5 flock mates. She was cut on her back near her tail, the others were mauled and killed.

During the day I put her in a 4x8 tractor run and will continue do that until I have a new 5 or 6 foot fence built - which may take as much as a month. At night she goes into her old coop with no sisters. She is eating well and has laid one egg since the disaster. I hate to see her alone and injured. I know they don't do well alone.

I started six new peeps, but they won't be outside for another 5 or six weeks. I would have started 3 or 4 even if this hadn't happened.

I could get a couple of 8 week old hens to keep her company. Or I could get a couple of older hens. They would need to stay in the run until I get the new fence - the neighbor dog is still around, and now has a taste for killing chickens though the owner has sworn she'll keep him in.

I'd hate to see her die of loneliness, but I'd hate to see her picked on by other birds before she heals. I'm not sure what to do.

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

Can you get 2 started pullets and somehow connect the tractor to the coop so you don’t have to move the chickens that much?

 

[Karen Glatz]

That's how I had it set up originally, so yes I could.

I can get 8 week olds. They should be sturdy enough to be outside now, the coop is insulated and the run is protected if it rains.

They would be smaller than she is. The wound doesn't seem to bother her and the feathers tent it so it's not obvious. Do you think they would peck at her in close quarters, or would her size make her the boss - would I have to worry about she picking on them?