Only one chicken left

[Phillip911]

The attack sounds like a hawk or eagle the hit hard and often will carry off smaller prey leaving only feathers.
Your remaining girl sounds like she has depleated her reserves she may need oyster shell added to her food to help her make the egg shells

 

[hollidayckinn]

Thank you for your reply. I can't seem to post a question. I do give her oyster shell everyday so I'm at a loss of what to do. Also, she has been having a dirty bottom and I'm not sure why. She still goes to the nesting box and sits there for awhile but she does nothing. Do you think she needs other chickens to make her happy or do you think she has just stopped laying egg because she's too old. My daughter just bought 25 babies and is planning on giving me about three when it's time for them to go out to the coop. I am physically not able to raise the chicks and at tractor supply you have to get at least 4 or 6 and I don't need that many. I would like to show the coop but I don't know how to put it on this site.
You have been very kind in trying to help. God bless you!
Sharon

 

[Steena]

We had three chickens: Ulla, LuLu and Zsa Zsa. They were about three years old. Two months ago a red fox took our 13 - 15 lb. Ulla. She was a beautiful girl. And we still look for her and miss her.
They all knew their names and they came when we called them, no matter where on the property they were!
Wonderful and loving pets who always wanted to be around us.
They hung around the veranda next to the screen door and most of the time were never far away.
Today, the fox took LuLu. Both LuLu and Zsa Zsa were feeding around the bird feeder in the morning. We gave them treats around 9:30 a.m. (zucchini from the garden) and not ten minutes later LuLu was gone. We looked through the entire property, under bushes and down in the compost area, wood piles and wooded area. Again, I believe either the male or female fox took her. I am sure there are probably some youngsters around as well - hunting.
We now have only Zsa Zsa, a beautiful and darling Polish. She is a nervous wreck and this evening she refused to go into the coop.
She ran around stopping and looking over and over and over.
We are sad, once more and do not think we'll have more hens. But my question to others is. Can one hen exist by herself? She became the rooster to Ulla and LuLu, so she's very smart and quick. Tonight when we checked on her she was on the roost but quickly flew down and wanted to get out of the caged area. We think she may have wanted to try and find LuLu who was always at her side.
Our girls were never penned, except at night.
Does anyone think it would be better for me to part with Zsa Zsa for her own good and happiness. I thought about going to Lollipop Farm and looking at their barnyard to see how the animals and birds are treated. It's a very nice shelter with horses, barn animals and I believe chickens.
Do chickens acclimate well?
I truly don't know what is best to do.
I would love some feedback.
Thank you.

 

[tomauch]

Hi. The dirty bottom is usually sleeping on the hay...rather than on the perch. Watch where they sleep. ALSO....as far as Tractor Supply goes. Every year we only need one or two chicks...they make us buy 4 to 6. That is WRONG. Every year I put two to 3 back in a paper bag and just WALK back into the store and return the un-needed chicks back into the aluminum bin. Every time an employee see's me, and ignores it. Just do it. Its OK. We had 4 now down to one due to old age. I think we are going to give our last one away to give her company. The most painful thing ever. ;-( (her name is Frankie)