Only one hen

[joyce_huang]

Since my little white hen was killed by an owl two days ago I have now only one hen left with four roosters. They are all seven months old. I don't have the heart to "process" the roosters. I am thinking separate them from the only hen I have now. My question is: will my only hen be lonely to be w herself all the time? Appreciate any suggestions.

 

[casportpony]

Sorry for your loss. Could you put her with a rooster?

 

[Lavender6]

I wouldn't want to be alone all the time. I just put myself in their place. I have one with sour crop and I have her "quarantine cage" sitting in the middle of the flock. I don't want her being alone. I am really new to this so my opinion might not be right. Just a thought...

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you really want to keep the boys and don't care about eggs, you could rehome the pullet. Or pick just the most gentle boy to house her with, and keep the others housed away from them.

Or plan on getting more pullets/hens. Boys still would need to be housed separately unless you're getting a LOT more girls.

 

[joyce_huang]

Thanks for all these sensible advises!

I'm now starting to find out who is the most gentle boy by keeping her with him and observing.

 

[joyce_huang]

Thanks. Being bald and injured is a ugly scene. I would never let that happens to her. Cruel is the affairs of nature. I cannot help becoming philosophical after a recent loss of another my beloved hen.

 

[joyce_huang]

I now have the hen takes turns to stay w each boy in a supervised fashion, hopefully it can gives me idea whom she feels most comfortable with. In the meantime, I'm purchasing a Incubator. I have some eggs from my beloved little white hen who was killed by a hawk 6 days ago. I want to hatch her chick's if it is possible. So sad my little while was only 7 months and herself was a baby still.

 

[joyce_huang]

If you really want to keep the boys and don't care about eggs, you could rehome the pullet. Or pick just the most gentle boy to house her with, and keep the others housed away from them.

Or plan on getting more pullets/hens. Boys still would need to be housed separately unless you're getting a LOT more girls.

Thanks for all these sensible advises!

 

[TheOddOneOut]

It might work if the boy is super gentle.
But the truth is, all young roosters have a crazed urge to breed as many hens as they can, as often as they can. And if there’s only one hen when normally there’d be more, all of that will be focused on her.
Is there not a way to get more hens of a similar age?

 

[Lavender6]

Sorry for your loss. Could you put her with a rooster?

I have been told by many a single hen with a roo will wear down fast. I gave my roo away because he was driving my five to the ground