Um, sure.

[Arztwolf]

I have a friend and ex-coworker who is also a loyal egg customer. She called to today to ask me if I wanted a free chicken.

Turns out one of her friends is down to one chicken (predation) and is going on vacation and has given it to her. She loves animals, but has no clue what to do with a single chicken (she has no coop or anything). He gave her a bag of food and she is keeping it in a dog crate in her house till she can bring it to me either this afternoon or tomorrow.

Not being a chicken person, she has no idea the breed or age of this bird. It's probably a hen since the guy lives in town and had them for eggs. The bird is def going into quarantine.

 

[1muttsfan]

You will definitely want to separate this bird from your flock for 3 weeks or so for observation. It is can be devastating to introduce illness or parasites to your flock by doing a kind, selfless act.

 

[drumstick diva]

I always say "Beware of friends bearing chickens." If not sick, they usually turn out to be cockerels.

 

[Arztwolf]

You will definitely want to separate this bird from your flock for 3 weeks or so for observation. It is can be devastating to introduce illness or parasites to your flock by doing a kind, selfless act.

It will be.

I always say "Beware of friends bearing chickens." If not sick, they usually turn out to be cockerels.

I think there is a good chance it'll turn out to be a hen. The guy was getting eggs from this chicken according to my friend.

 

[Arztwolf]

It's a hen and I've named her Maple.

 

[N F C]

It's a hen and I've named her Maple.

She's a nice looking girl. I hope after isolation she'll fit in with the other girls you have.

 

[Arztwolf]

She's a nice looking girl. I hope after isolation she'll fit in with the other girls you have.

I do, too. She is not flighty and appears to be friendly. So far no lice, sneezing or discharge, hope it stays that way.

 

[Outpost JWB]

She is beautiful. Glad she got a good new home

 

[Arztwolf]

So I ended her quarantine and promptly decided she wants nothing to do with my other chickens!

She would rather live as a hermit beneath my house then in a nice, safe, and comfortable chicken coop. So she has spent the past two nights roosting beneath my feet, coming out during the day to eat the cat food we put down for the feral cats. I put out a dish of all flock crumbles for her and the other chickens promptly ate it all as she turned her beak up to it and went into the woods to forage.

She is not being picked on, she just wants nothing to do with them.

 

[Outpost JWB]

How about now? It's been a couple days. They have to re establish the pecking order when new chickens are added.