Single Chicken - Introducing a 2nd, but a chick

[Lola's Dad]

We have just one chicken and although she seems happy, healthy and energetic, we often wonder if she's lonely. She's 2 years old, average size. We were considering introducing a new baby chick to her. This month's BYC Newsletter has a great article on introducing new chickens to existing flocks, and covers the quarantine, biological and health issues in depth. However, it does not discuss our situation; can you introduce one new chick to a single hen ? Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[TheRookie]

I would NOT put a baby chick in with an adult by itself unless the hen is broody and you can slip it under her. If she's not broody, you would be better off getting another adult. A lone chick will cry if you brood it in the house because they are very social. If you get another adult, separate them for at least a month to keep the new one from spreading any possible diseases to your existing hen.

 

[Lola's Dad]

Great info, and thank you. If I were to get an egg from my local farm (obviously, a fertilized one with a chick inside) and slipped it under her, and it hatched in her presence, then that should work ?

 

[MarkBo409]

That will only work if you can get her to incubate the new egg. there is no secret tip to make that happen.

 

[Lola's Dad]

Hmmmm. OK, thanks for the info. I'll have to give it more thought.