Should I move chicken to new home?

[BigBlueHen53]

Hmmm. Lots of possibilities, but ... at 7 years of age, if she is content, why rock her boat? I vote for letting her live out her days in peace just as she is. Moving her could cause all kinds of stress. Best wishes, whatever you decide.

 

[14513buff]

Hi, because she is 7yrs old, and that has been her home all her life.
Rather than take her from there, and cause her stress, would it not be easier
if your son, bought a couple of pullets, as company for her, especially as it is also
2 acres, where she lives, and it is the only home she has known for 7yrs. It just
proves how happy she has been living there, as she is now 7yr. Just thinking if
your son, brought in company for her, it would be her, top of the pecking order.
Not the other way around, and also no stress for her either. Guess i am just thinking
it would be nice for her. As bless her, i bet she knows every crook and cranny on them 2 acres, and how she would love, introducing a couple of young ones, around their new home. lol Maybe it is easier for your son, the other way around though. Whatever
the outcome, i wish you the best. Good luck.

Thank you for the response. I agree that would be the best option but my kid is in college now and doesn't live there. I would love to take her and get a couple new ones but my HOA doesn't allow it. His dad takes care of her but isn't interested in getting more. So the only options are to keep her there as is or send her to another flock.

 

[sourland]

Given her age and the fact that she has been fine alone for so long, my choice would be to leave her where she is.

 

[14513buff]

All the happier with a flock may be a consideration,
but....let's look at Romance vs Reality.
They will likely attack her....unless she has some real moxie.
Putting a single new bird into a coop at night rarely works.
Yes, this^^^ or at least have a crate where she can be safe.

...and....
There's also the pests and diseases aspect to think about,
adding birds is always a risk for both groups.

Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search


Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

Thank you for the response. Yes, I'm nervous about causing problems on either side. I would feel terrible if it caused problems in his flock as those belong to his two very young 4h'ers. Also, I won't have any control over how much effort they would put into the integration. I think she did have moxie but she is old so I'm not sure how much is left.

 

[Shadrach]

Speaking as a person getting on a bit in years I'm not sure how kindly I would take being uprooted from my home where I have out lived my friends and relatives to be dumped in with a lot of bouncy youngsters.
Yes it is true chickens are social animals, but it takes time to be accepted into their social structure and often you have to fight your way in. Chickens in my experience are not the cute little mama loving fluffy butts some would have us believe. Chicken society can be pretty savage and unless youu are very very careful about how you went about integrating this hen I can't actually see her benefiting.

 

[LeggyLeghorn]

Thank you for the response. I agree that would be the best option but my kid is in college now and doesn't live there. I would love to take her and get a couple new ones but my HOA doesn't allow it. His dad takes care of her but isn't interested in getting more. So the only options are to keep her there as is or send her to another flock.

Any chance you could find a chickenless person willing to adopt the hen?

 

[LeggyLeghorn]

nice way to introduce one to chicken keeping...

 

[14513buff]

nice way to introduce one to chicken keeping...

That's a good idea. Everyone I know that would be interested and able to keep a few either already have their own flock or a dog/cat that wouldn't be compatible. We would have tried to rehome her after the second-to-last one died but no one thought she would live this long. We've been reading over all the responses and are really starting to lean heavily toward just leaving things as is.

 

[aart]

Any chance you could find a chickenless person willing to adopt the hen?

nice way to introduce one to chicken keeping...

Ehhh, starting with a single bird is not a great idea, IMO.

 

[LeggyLeghorn]

Ehhh, starting with a single bird is not a great idea, IMO.

I did, and it went well.
14513buff's predicament is not a common occurrence.