Hi,
I've been a lurker here for a while. We had 3 hens (BPR, RIR, and Ameraucana) about 6 months old. We have a bi-level coop (6x4x6) but let the chickens roam the yard during the day. Last weekend, in broad daylight a coyote got our BPR and RIR. Our neighbor saved the Ameraucana ("Brownie") who had jumped to the top of the fence. We are not sure how the coyote got in. The fence on the street side is 6ft high, and the fence with the neighbor is 4ft. No signs of digging. It must have climbed over. We have since secured our coop with hardware cloth underneath and bricks around it. We keep Brownie in the coop full time now, and check on her all the time. We feel bad that she is all alone and cooped up. We're still pretty devastated by the whole event, but think we should get a companion hen for her. This is our first time having chickens. How should we introduce a new hen? Is there a particular breed for which this is easier? I don't know if it matters, but Brownie was at the bottom of the pecking order before. I was reading about quarantining - how can i do this practically without building another coop? Can you buy a bird that is already quarantined? How long is it OK to have a hen by herself? She doesn't seem too traumatized. She continues to eat and lay, but she seems to be looking for her friends sometimes.
Any advice would be appreciated. I'm sure I'll have more questions later.
This is Brownie:
Thanks!
I've been a lurker here for a while. We had 3 hens (BPR, RIR, and Ameraucana) about 6 months old. We have a bi-level coop (6x4x6) but let the chickens roam the yard during the day. Last weekend, in broad daylight a coyote got our BPR and RIR. Our neighbor saved the Ameraucana ("Brownie") who had jumped to the top of the fence. We are not sure how the coyote got in. The fence on the street side is 6ft high, and the fence with the neighbor is 4ft. No signs of digging. It must have climbed over. We have since secured our coop with hardware cloth underneath and bricks around it. We keep Brownie in the coop full time now, and check on her all the time. We feel bad that she is all alone and cooped up. We're still pretty devastated by the whole event, but think we should get a companion hen for her. This is our first time having chickens. How should we introduce a new hen? Is there a particular breed for which this is easier? I don't know if it matters, but Brownie was at the bottom of the pecking order before. I was reading about quarantining - how can i do this practically without building another coop? Can you buy a bird that is already quarantined? How long is it OK to have a hen by herself? She doesn't seem too traumatized. She continues to eat and lay, but she seems to be looking for her friends sometimes.
Any advice would be appreciated. I'm sure I'll have more questions later.
This is Brownie:

Thanks!