What to do with lone survivor pullet?

[ChristinaBee]

Yesterday, I had two grey foxes attack my chickens while they were loose. I had 4- 9 week old pullets, the foxes got two and the third is missing. One pullet survived. I also have 4- 3 year old hens. The hens have been picking on the lone pullet. She’s now hanging out by herself all the time. What’s my best option for her? I don’t want her to be lonely.

A.) keep her with my hens and maybe they’ll get along better?

B.) give her to my sister who has 3 pullets the same age as her and no other chickens?

 

[DobieLover]

This is very normal for either a loan chick or a loan youngster being placed with sexually mature hens. If you just wait it out and give her some time, once she comes into lay the hens will be much more accepting of her. She'll be okay on the outskirts of the flock until then.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

If you can keep her safe and treat it like an integration phase, she'll be full size soon enough and problem solved. I agree that just being with the flock is what she needs whether it's separated/ see but don't touch or what she's doing, hanging back. She'll be okay as long as you don't make her totally solo away from the flock. And all of that being said, she'd be good with the same age new flock of your sisters too. That is up to whether you prefer to keep her or not. Sorry that happened, no fun at all.

 

[ChristinaBee]

Thank you both for your replies. I would like to keep her, she’s a sweet girl. I’m going to keep an eye on things and hopefully soon she’ll integrate with the rest of the flock.