Single Chicken

[KWood]

Hi,

We lost one of our chicken at the weekend. We had 3 one passed away around 8 months ago and the other one passed away this weekend - leaving us with one chicken. she seems ok in her self, we are keeping an eye on her to see if she shows any signs of illness before trying to introduce her to another flock as we fear she will be lonely at ours on her own - some posts have intrigued me that maybe she could be left on her own and be fine - she lives in a large closed area where she is away from harm - coming out on an evening where she is with us and watched.

please could anyone advise on your experiences with this situation.
Please do not post rude or hurtful comments, as I'm sure you understand I am very upset at the moment - constructive and helpful comments only

Thanks,

Kezia

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

So sorry for your losses Since you only have the one hen. It’s best when you do decide to introduce new birds to put them in a dog crate so that all the birds can see each other but not touch. Do this for about a week until.

 

[birdofhermes]

lots of dogs do just fine on their own

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Hi,

We lost one of our chicken at the weekend. We had 3 one passed away around 8 months ago and the other one passed away this weekend - leaving us with one chicken. she seems ok in her self, we are keeping an eye on her to see if she shows any signs of illness before trying to introduce her to another flock as we fear she will be lonely at ours on her own - some posts have intrigued me that maybe she could be left on her own and be fine - she lives in a large closed area where she is away from harm - coming out on an evening where she is with us and watched.

please could anyone advise on your experiences with this situation.
Please do not post rude or hurtful comments, as I'm sure you understand I am very upset at the moment - constructive and helpful comments only

Thanks,

Kezia

Sorry for your loss. I’ve been there chickens can be very happy to be loved if you have that bond with her. If not I’d introduce her to another flock as Brahma chicken 5000 suggested

 

[staceyj]

There are lots of threads here about quarantining new flock members that might be of help to you if you do choose to get her a friend or two.
So sorry for your losses.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Here’s a great article on quarantining your chickens: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nderestimated-part-of-raising-chickens.67097/

 

[chuckachucka]

What breed is the hen you have left? If she is likely to go broody in spring you could get her some fertile eggs and let her raise her own new family. Someone recently suggested I do this with a single serama I have.

 

[KWood]

Thanks for all your support!!!!!
I really appreciate it!!!!
I'm going to look at all the options

What breed is the hen you have left? If she is likely to go broody in spring you could get her some fertile eggs and let her raise her own new family. Someone recently suggested I do this with a single serama I have.

She is a Warren Pullet

 

[driver]

I think it's not ideal to have a single hen, but I had alone for about 9 months, from last fall until this spring when I got some new chicks (and put them all together about 2 months later).

My single hen seemed fine by herself all winter. She may have been less active, but she was also 6 years old. I'm sure she would have preferred company, but no harm came from being alone for a while.

 

[Mrs. K]

A lot of people do worry about a chicken alone, but I will mention, they will not be best friends forever if you add a new bird. One tend to gives human emotions to birds that are more pet like, than livestock like. However, in chicken society, birds have a pecking order, and being lonely does not change that.

Personally, I like having more birds in my flock, and the flock is for me. Loosing birds always is miserable, and with our predators I do know! But as my granddaughter says, "That sucks, but now we have room for chicks."

Good luck,

Mrs K