She lost her BFF

[Erin80]

One of my barred rocks died from heat a week and half ago....leaving her best friend (her sister) behind. My two barred rocks always stuck together and they were their own mini flock of two. Since one has died, do you think my solo barred rock will join or attempt to join another group? I hate the thought of her roosting alone in the winter and not having anyone to snuggle up to. My other little mini flocks within my flock are:
2 silkies - sisters who stick together
1 Ameraucana and 1 Icelandic - brooded together and are best buds...but my Icelandic is leaving on Sunday due to being overly aggressive to my Faverolle....and I favour my Fav. So my Ameraucana will also be alone without a best friend. She's the same age as my barred rock.
1 Light Brahma, 1 BA and 1 Salmon Faverolle - all brooded together and stick together - they are new this year (born in April).
I'm getting 3 more Ameraucana's in a few weeks - highly doubt she'd hook up with them.

What are the odds that she might make a new friend? I've never been in this position before so I don't know if they move on or just stay solo.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Sorry to hear about your loss

I hope you find this article helpful ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ly-mourn-over-the-loss-of-a-flock-mate.67429/

 

[MickWithChicks]

In my experience they move on. She'll seem a bit off for a few days/weeks, but they always come around and will join in with the others. I find giving the whole flock some scratch together a couple of times a day (first thing in the morning and in the evening 30 minutes before roost time) for a week will bring them all together to scratch around and will encourage her to rejoin the flock. Do keep in mind that most scratch mixes don't have much calcium, so make sure you have some shell-grit available to them at all times. I hope it all works out for you.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Erin80,

I have had this situation happen several times in my flock.

Don't discount the Ameruacanas, They can be very sweet and surprising birds.

When my Black Star "Filamena" died, six months ago, she left behind her BFF "Ginger". Ginger wandered around the pen and yard, clucking and looking for Filamena for about three days. I thought she would move on. But, instead I noticed her not eating as the days went on. Her head hung low, and she sat in the corner. I checked her for illness, but all looked fine. I decided to take her to the vet, to see if she was ill. I told him she had been acting differently since the death of her BFF. He examined her, and looked at me and asked, " is she in grief?". My eyes popped open, in surprise. I was in shock, I told him I had no idea that chickens grieved. "Oh, yes they do", was his reply!

That poor hen, was in such grief, she made herself ill by not eating enough. She actually had an infection that overtook her, after becoming weak from not eating well. She received an antibiotic for the infection, and a stuffed toy hen to keep her company in the hospital crate.

Ginger quickly made a full recovery from the infection. I returned her to the flock.

In the weeks to come, she eventually developed a relationship with my Ameruacana, "Taji", who was also the alpha hen of my flock. Taji had a mean streak in her personality, but kept order in the flock. She and Ginger became very close, perched together, dust bathed and foraged together. After Taji passed away from cancer this year, Ginger went on to become the new alpha hen. She is matured, and seems to understand that her friends go away. She continues to get up every morning, eat and manage the youngsters in the flock.

So in answer to your question,yes, your hen most likely will find a new friend. But, most importantly, be vigilant for illness during this time.

I have since learned that this behavior is rarely seen in large flocks. But, is common in small flocks, where hens develop close relationships with each other. They do feel happiness, joy, fear, jealousy, sadness and even grief.

These are my thoughts based on my experience with my flocks. I hope I have been helpful.

God Bless