4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[badgerbluebadger]

Today was horrible - I had to have Ella put down as she had peritonitis. I an egg broke inside her.

 

My husband and I don't know what to do as we now have only one chicken on her own.

 

Should we get another? I feel so bad at the moment I will really miss Ella as she was such a friendly chicken and so very clever - but I know Sam could be lonely.

 

Advice really welcomed

[Egluntyne]

I would say yes...definitely....or even two, so that you don't find yourself in this predicament again.

 

Sam will pine and be lonely, so I would do it as soon as you feel you can face it.

[Guest]

Yes you must! I think you (and Ella) have just been really unlucky. Go and get a couple, the sooner, the better.

[badgerbluebadger]

Egluntine & PRim Hen Mum thank you - I may find it hard now but I don't want Sam to have a bad lonely life.

 

I will look around - but will only have one due to size of my garden and the fact I work 5 days a week and they are only able to free range at the weekend during the dark winter months.

 

I live in Bexleyheath and have no idea where to even start looking or whether to get an exbat?

[Barkisland]

So sorry to hear about Ella, you must be devastated. I definitely think you should get company for your remaining chookie asap. There must be breeders round your way - I'm sure someone will be along to suggest somewhere soon, or you could email Barbara at Omlet, she has a list. I don't think you can have just one ex batt, I think 3, or possibly 2, is the minimum number they will let you take.

Good luck

[badgerbluebadger]

If we can't get one ex bat then where is a good breeder near Bexleyheath - I need to weigh up all my options before making any decisions

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I hope you manage to find a new friend for Sam. Hopefully a new girlie will help take your mind off this sad time .

[Chickvic]

How sad hope you find Sam a new friend soon.

[chelsea]

when my Sam died leaving a lonely Ella she really pined for her and she sat on our kitchen mat for days. We got 3 new friends within the week for her.

 

The difference was remarkable, she became a brighter, perkier chook and because I went from 2 to 4 chickens they became a flock and she was top chook.

 

I would recommend getting some new pals, 2 more is a good idea

[Yorkshire Pudding]

When I lost Daphne just before Christmas, her friend Marj became very lonely and distressed. She paced endlessly searching for the other hen and wouldn't go in to bed when it got dark.

 

I introduced 2 new POL hens which had been together at the breeders, planning to keep them separate for a week or so. Within 2 days they had escaped my careful introductory plans and formed a threesome. Marj's odd behaviour vanished and she spend the next few days showing the new girls around the garden and introducing them to the joys of dust bathing and lawn dismantling. When she was with Daphne she was bottomof the pecking order; now she is the top chook and looks healthier than ever. I have 3 very happy chooks and more eggs than I know what to do with.

 

If you are worried about space in the run while you're at work, have you considered an extension for the run?

[badgerbluebadger]

I thought about a run extension but I dont really have the space in the overall garden - I would rather my girls have more room - Sam n Ella were happy as a pair so I think it will be fine.

 

I know I have to get a new girl but have no idea idea what type or where to get her from.

[Larkspurs]

I've been searching around the internet looking for you but haven't found any specifics for poultry breeders in your immediate area and I lack local knowledge.

 

Omlet's wiki has a couple of entries:

http://wiki.omlet.co.uk/index.php/Chicken_Breeder_Directory

 

I've also found this:

http://www.kentpoultryclub.org.uk/index.htm maybe they can help put you in touch with someone?

 

Any other omleteers out there with advice?

[Daphne]

You could try looking in your local free mag/paper, or here: http://www.bestofbreeds.com/countrybreeds/poultry/poultry.htm or here

 

http://www.poultry.allotment.org.uk/poultry-suppliers/live-poultry-egg-supplier-england.php

[badgerbluebadger]

Just spoke a really nice lady at http://www.henhousepoultry.co.uk/

 

Will get a girl next weekend but unsure what to get ike the idea of different colour eggs but want a tame brid?

[Guest]

I have looked at this website several times when I have been hen 'window shopping':

 

http://www.highdownpoultry.co.uk/

 

The guy who owns it also advertises in Practical Poultry....

[Cooks]

the corals they do will lay a creamy coloured egg, so you would easily tell the diference from a brown egg layer.

[badgerbluebadger]

I like the idea of the heritage skyline for blue eggs but the picture looks a bit like my poor Ella . I dont want a hen looking like Ella as I will always think her.

 

What are they like? Are they tame I read that they we not very friendly?

[Cooks]

the skyline? I believe they are friendly yes, I haven't picked mine up yet, she's reserved for me though with her sister the bluebelle

[badgerbluebadger]

how do you introduce them?

[poachedegg]

how do you introduce them?

I followed this method and it worked really well:

 

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=25886

[Cooks]

I am keeping my new young ones seperate in the eglu and closely monitoring them out freeranging together, ready to wade in if I need to. I will play it by ear and let them find their feet.

Luckily the lady that is taking my eglu (as I cannot keep that and the cube), is so lovely that she is happy to wait until the girls are happily settled which is a huge wait off my mind.

[Plum]

sorry about Ella, very sad. I found this site www.churchmans.co.uk/

[badgerbluebadger]

mm lots of work - I think I will need to get my husband to do a bit of DIY on the run, but he doing the bathroom at the moment. But do you think the new girl will be ok sleeping in a catbasket at night inside my flat for a week or so while I am introducing her?

 

Today has been hard as well as I have really missed Ella running about the garden with Sam today.

 

Lots to sort out but I want my Sam to be a happy hen.