What to do now only 1 chicken?

[sophie_cerys]

We had 2 chickens but unfortunately one passed away last night very suddenly, meaning we now only have 1. The issue is given the current lockdown situation we can’t get a new one from our usual place or rescue any ex-battery hens. Has anyone got any ideas what we could do?

 

[cavemanrich]

Don't worry about it,,,, and when the Covid passes, get another one then. It is not like the end of the world for your remaining chicken, even though I know chickens do like company
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[cluckadoodledoo13]

We had 2 chickens but unfortunately one passed away last night very suddenly, meaning we now only have 1. The issue is given the current lockdown situation we can’t get a new one from our usual place or rescue any ex-battery hens. Has anyone got any ideas what we could do?

I’m sorry for you’re loss Obviously they do prefer not to live alone but it’s no different to when someone has to quarantine a single chicken for whatever reason. I have kept a chicken on her own once as she hated the others company and i know i’ve heard of other people doing that too. Don’t worry too much as if it’s only temporary then it shouldn’t effect her. Try and give her more attention than normal just so she is occupied. See how she reacts and maybe get her another friend after lockdown. Stay safe and hope this helped.

 

[cluckadoodledoo13]

I'm also in the same situation but I would rather find her a new home because I don't think I'll be able to commit and care for new chickens. I'll prefer to find her a new good home. So if your interested I'm near the L.A. california area

Aww, i wish i was closer because i would have definitely taken her in to be part of my flock. Good luck with her rehoming and stay safe.

 

[nao57]

Even though you can't go out because of the quarantine, you should still be able to receive live chicks in the mail etc. (You better check on this part though, because some people have to pick up chicks at the post office directly?) But you could either order the eggs as an alternative right to your house and then hatch or put them under her. (see below)

This is a female chicken right?

Maybe you can trick her to go broody and then put the live chicks with her also using fake eggs while waiting for the mail?

I don't think its good for fowl to be alone long. All living things have social structures of some kind; though, obviously some are more complex than others.

I had thought in most areas that getting groceries, or getting 'animal feed' is an exception to the lock down no? And it just so happens that live animals are often sold at the same place as animal feed?

I don't encourage going out in the lock down. I would avoid it at all costs. But most places are still delivering mail. And live animals can be sent through the mail in most industrialized countries; but I don't know the rules to each one. This could be done with reduced risk, I think; but it wouldn't be zero risk. (Consider your options carefully.)

I wouldn't wait for Covid to pass before replacing the lost hens if you can do so in a way that will have reduced risk. If you have to start over its 6 months before a chick starts laying eggs. And at the same time unrest is likely to go up in big cities; the signs point to this already happening, because people are mad they about unemployment.

(This also means that its probably not a good idea while things are in turmoil for people to be able to see where you have animals, or that you have them.)

I have respiratory problems myself, so I'm not going out in this at all if I can avoid it. But there are ways of doing things at home.

The way I see it you should increase your chickens, because they are one of the few things you have that can give you a return on investment, even in times of trouble.

 

[sophie_cerys]

Thank you so much for all the advice!

 

[Waves]

sorry for your loss!
i really hope your hen can be happy soon