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...

 

[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

 

[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.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Get more female friends and get rid of the roosters.
The roosters will kill her as she is now. They will breed her nonstop.
Even if it was just one rooster, she’d be soon bald and injured.

 

[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]

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!

 

[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.

 

[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?