Andrea3000
In the Brooder
- Aug 7, 2020
- 17
- 12
- 34
My sister and brother in law have a farm and have 30 chickens. This spring, when they introduced the most recent batch into the established flock, one of the new teenagers got picked on. Her head was bloodied and bald and she was terrified. We separated her out, cleaned her wounds daily and nursed her back to health. Following all the advice they’d been given from other farmers/chicken owners, we tried reintroducing her. Long story short, didn’t work. She couldn’t live in the temporary box they had her in while recuperating, so eventually my BIL built me a portable chicken coop and I agreed to take her. She is healthy again and roams my yard during the day (in town, 8 foot privacy fence). I guess my questions are... I know they are not solitary birds. But I am not getting a bunch of chickens. How unhappy do you think she will be? I desperately want to make her life as enjoyable as possible. Also, do you think her lack of growing up with the flock will affect her adjustment at all? She won’t touch the nesting box I gave her. Still introducing a roost by placing it in the yard for her to discover on her own. Will she eventually lay instinctively? Or will she have trouble since she’s solo? I don’t know. I have a million questions but I really just worry about her happiness. Any advice or insight would be appreciated. Thank you! Edit: I’m adding a pic of her humble abode.
Last edited: