very new to chickens help :)

[daniellecm]

Good Morning

A week ago a lonely chicken showed up in our back yard. I have no idea how old or even what she is but she is pretty sweet. every morning she is in the barn and every night she is back. I bought her some laying pellets and let her wander. last night i came home she had some blood on her foot and seemed a bit sore on it. I noticed a crow tried to attack her and was running after her. I locked her in my garage with food and water over night. she is becoming more comfortable and friendly. seems to really like the horses. Any tips or help would be greatly apprciated.
any idea what breed she may be ?

 

[daniellecm]

Wow I have been reading through this board and have read a lot of pretty good information.
Thinking this is a great place for advise and support. I think I will need it considering I have never had a chicked and this one seems to think it now lives with me.

Any advise

 

[salt and pepper]

She looks like a mix, with maybe some game bird in her. Good job for rescuing her!

I would keep an eye on that foot, to make sure it doesn't get infected. Oh, and don't freak out if her skin turns green in the area she was hurt, that a chicken bruise. lol. Do you plan on keeping her? If you do she needs a Friend or two to keep her company

Also, if you don;t want her to keep getting hurt, I would build her coop so she can be safe at night. Pallets work great if your on a budget!

 

[daniellecm]

Thank you ! Like i said I am very ,very new to chickens never really thought of having one before but she decided to stay and I certainly cant fathom the thought of an animal getting hurt I seem to have no choice but to help her.
so in having said that, please exscuse the mulitple dumb questions I will most definetly ask. lol

How do you use pallets to build her something ?
she was roaming free for the last week and seemed to really like the barn with the horses. She would stay right in the stall with them.
Do i have to get her a friend or can she live alone ?
Im not sure how she hurt her foot but she seemed to be doing ok this morning when i checked on her before work.
I left her locked in the garage. actually its my hay room. I put a basket with hay in it and gave her some water and food.
Will she be ok in there ?

 

[salt and pepper]

What I do is get pallets, and fill the gaps with more wood untill you have a solid wall except for some minor cracks. The for the front you cut a square foot hole for the door, put in some hole at the top for vents. you put five pieces together for the floor and four walls ( make sure the back wall is slanted for the roof ) put the roof on, and you have a coop! You could convert one of the stalls into a coop for her, but if she goes into the barn at night, she should be pretty safe. You could make a run off of the stall she sleep in if you are worried about her getting hurt when you're not around. Yes, it would be best if you got her another hen to be with, most likely she was in a flock, and she is the only survivor, and is looking for somewhere safe. She will be fine in the garage while you are gone.

 

[daniellecm]

well we made he/she a little coop on the other side of my minis house. it tool a few days but now I just say bed time and popcorn goes running in. they are soo funny. wish I knew where it came from but nevertheless it seems to be staying!

 

[StizzyL17]

well we made he/she a little coop on the other side of my minis house. it tool a few days but now I just say bed time and popcorn goes running in. they are soo funny. wish I knew where it came from but nevertheless it seems to be staying!

This makes me smile!

 

[NosiphoChooks]

Aw well done for rescuing her and for trying to find out all about chickens for her! It would be good to get her a little friend. Chickens do best in groups and feel more secure.