What to do with one surviving chicken?

[NanaLantana]

I had a lone hen for 9 years, after her flockmates were killed by a dog all on the same day when they were pullets. She did fine with the family - they're definitely social creatures - but my lone hen was never cooped after that, she ran around with my own dogs, cats, and people. She watched for my car to pull up,and ran to greet me! She was very sweet, and VERY watchful of her own safety. But if you have to coop your lone hen, get her some friends, or give her away to a farm while you fix and start your new flock, like the others have said.

My 9 yr old hen died during her last moulting just before Christmas.

She laid eggs almost that whole time, too!

 

[annep]

Ok..same thing happened here..Fox got nine of ten..the remaining we named Lucky..Took her a couple of days to really come out of the shock, but she was just fine. Then we got more pullets to replace the old ones, and she attacked them relentlessly. Pecked the toes off of one that we now call Stumpy. So, we separated Lucky and Stumpy, and found a good home for Lucky..Just not worth it in time and energy to keep one separated from the others and have them all do well.

 

[Mrs. K]

I hate this when it happens, but sometimes the predators win. It has happened to most of us, once coons, once mink, once my son in law's dog.

Fix the coop as stated above. I now have a totally enclosed fort knox type coop/run.

I would call around to some other local chicken people and get some more hens. This time of year, at least for us in SD, body heat is a big part of staying warm. I see the quarantine advice being given, but imho it is not relevant here. Quarantine is very important when you have an entire flock at risk, not one hen.

The important thing is to get a flock back together for heat. And it is not more stressful to add a hen to a existing flock, than to add a flock to an existing hen. The original hen will be outnumbered, but it is her house, they will all settle down in a day or two. Get mature hens, similar size. Put similar size hens in the coop after dark, and you will be back in the business.

MrsK

 

[bquillen]

I just lost 3 of our 4 Easter Eggers to a groundhog of all things. They were only 6 weeks and had been out in the coop a week. The groundhog had a burrow very close to their enclosure, I guess it was territorial..... . The kids and I are heartbroken, but the remaining hen is very stressed. We brought her back in the house and she keeps calling for the others. She was the most nervous of the bunch-would get very upset whenever seperated from the others. We are trying to trap the groundhog, but once that is resolved would you recommend getting more pullets to eventually introduce her to?