We adore our little rescue hen. She is so sweet...but I dont think she is happy. She is an indoor chicken right now. She doesnt like to wear her diaper, and acts like her legs are broken every time you put it on her. It takes her an hour or more to start acting normal. She is easy scared of my kids and the dog (that does not bother her). She doesnt seem happy..... I am scared to put her outside w/ the rest of my flock...she is just so little. I dont have ANY type of fencing or pen. they are completely free range and have a coop at night they go into. I am unwilling to put her in a pen outside all by herself. What do you recommend? Can she completely free range with the rest of the big girls??? Should I rehome her in a situation that is better for her??
I am in Southeastern Ohio, would gladly take her if you are close, we have 3 and they are sweet little birds, they are so docile and easy to pick up and talk constantly. If you get her a friend or two, she would do fine in a well done and safe small area, like large rabbit hutch, etc.
We are located about an hour south of St. Louis. I cant travel to take her anywhere far considering I am 6mths pregnant (and high risk...) So is there NO hope of her being able to free range with the big girls? I have 3 other bantys outside w/ the flock now (2 Banty cochins and a silkie).....
Why don't you try letting her free range with the others for a couple hours when you have time to watch? Be careful you don't treat her too differently than the others, in front of them, because they will pick at her because of that. After a long discussion on this forum, I found out that if you treat a favorite chicken special, the others will pick on her more. It lowers her even further on the pecking order to be singled out, held, fed treats. If you aren't working outside the home, you could give the rescue chicken time daily outside. If the others free range in the whole yard, it might be ok. After a week or two, she might be able to entirely be with them.
we could do that..... I am home all day, & I would love it if she could be with the other girls. I am sure she would like being out there to explore....
My OEGBs are with my big chickens and I've always had OEGBs free ranging with the big ones. They do just fine.
someone else suggested to me she might be broody. & hatching an egg to be her buddy migt help. I could give her a banty cochin egg to sit on. I am new to all this.....what are the telltale signs she is broody?
I have a bantam cochin hen, 4 years old, that, until this year has never had any chickens around that were her size, and she's done fine. She now has 3 her size, another cochin, a light sussex and a red pyle game bantam, who is half of her size, so tiny. I am in the process of integrating everyone and getting who I want into the 2 coops I have for the winter. My red pyle (dove) keeps hanging out in the big coop and run, which is not where i want her. My rooster, a standard size, mates with my other bantams, but prefers the girls more his size, but I've never even seen him approach Dove. Being so small, she can fly well, and nobody gives her any problems. My original bantam has always tended to keep to herself, kind of like, if I leave you big chickens alone, maybe you won't notice me. I've never had more than one roo at a time, but they have always mated with her, and she's none the worse for the wear. But she normally tries to stay out of the roos way. If I were you, if you can, I would try keeping her in a dog crate in your run for a few days, so everyone can see her, and they can get used to each other that way. Then I would try freeranging them together, but keeping a watchful eye. There will definitely be some pecking, but I've always found that integrating at first while freeranging is alot easier. Seems everyone is so busy scratching around for all the good bugs and grasses, that they don't notice the new one so much.
