Keeping my lone hen warm

[Donna Clark]

One of my pair of hens has recently passed away. The remaining hen appears to be quite happy on her own, but I was advised to get a new companion for her ASAP. Unfortunately, that's very difficult at this time of year. Usually, they would snuggle up together on cold nights, so I'm wondering about maybe placing a hot water bottle (not too hot, wrapped in a towel) in the coop. Does anyone do this?

[Beantree]

Good idea, but by the time it gets really cold in the early hours the bottle will be cold as well, so do nothing. There is a danger she sleeps on it, in which case it may do far more harm than good because she will lose body heat to it.

There is a danger, often overlooked, when chicken's body temperature drops too low. Below normal temperatures the gut flora dies, so even when their temperature is restored, eating doesn't give the energy they need because the flora isn't there to convert the food. How do we know? We've had this problem and it takes a week from the probiotics being given until the flora is restored sufficiently. Their poos will be very grainy, like they haven't digested, and they will be fluffed up and shivering. When they stand there not moving they are so cold they have just shut down.

So my advice is to do what we did last night and bring her in from her coop when she has gone in and into a cage in the house. Then take her out again in the morning and put her into the coop so she can come out and remain imprinted to her coop. It only takes one night inside to confuse them. In our case we accept than and she's in the house for as long as she wants. We have kitchen roll and disinfectant spray to hand and all the floors are tiled.

[Donna Clark]

That sounds like a good idea. I have a dog crate she could stay in overnight. Thanks.