Busybird Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 DD's friend had a lone hen wander into her garden that started roosting in their tree's a few weeks ago. Friends mum has asked around the village and can't find out whose it is. In the meantime she has put it in their garage in a cardboard box (freeranging in garden by day). They don't want to keep it and have asked if we would have it. I have agreed to have it (a Chicken of Fate!!) if I can sort out accomodation. I know that I need medium term temporary accomodation as I can't put 1 hen in with an established flock of 4. Would I be better to get a second lone hen and put the 2 'newbies' in separate accomodation for slow introductions or would 2 'strange' hens attack each other and should I just try to integrate this 1 hen on her own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 If you get another lone hen they would be new to each other, but you'd need to put them in the run at the same time so neither one would have "the home advantage". People have successfully integrated 1 lone hen, but it is easier with 2. Good luck, and yey your chicken of fate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clur Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 After we lost our hen and were left with just Dilys, we bought 3 more young chooks. We let the established hen have the eglu, and separated the run with chicken wire and provided a recycling plastic box with spare roosting bars for somewhere to sleep for the newbies. After 2 weeks of this arrangement, we let all the hens freerange together and after they established a pecking order, they've all lived very happily together and sleep in the eglu at night. The only thing I'd say is, don't be surprised if integration takes longer (I think we were very fortunate) and be prepared for the lone hen to remain a little bit of an outsider for a bit. That said, I think it's easier to integrate one lone hen to several, rather than the other way round! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 Articles on introducing hens **here** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 if it was me id either put one in with the new hen if i had enough or i would get another then mix them when they have settled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 if it was me id either put one in with the new hen if i had enough or i would get another then mix them when they have settled. that's exactly what I did, introduced one new girl to one of mine so they were 2 and 2 , then free ranged al together. just don't rush it, let it take as long as it takes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
