Sooo much pooping

[*mummy_hen*]

This could be a long one so apologies in advance and thank you to anyone who manages to read it all!!

 

Last summer i sadly lost 3 of my ex-batt girlies to illness in one weekend and was left with little Florence all on her own. Originally the vets thought it was a virus that would be passed to other chickens so i couldn't get anymore but i am pleased to say we have since found out that was not the case. We originally got two little ducks to be her friend but she absolutely hated them and she gave them such a hard time they had to go and live with my mum and her other ducks as it just wasn't working out. She has been absolutely fine on her own though, she loves spending time with me but apart from that seemed happy as larry.

 

Recently i had to go and stay with my mum for 5 weeks, Florence came too with her eglu and run. My mum also has one ex-batt girl left and 7 ducks. Florence had never got on with any of them before and was a bit of a bully to be honest so always stayed in her own part of the garden. However as the weeks went on she has become firm friends with my mums remaining girl. She was still sleeping in her own house at night but apart from that spent every minute of the day together. I have now come home and am in bits about what to do.

For my sake i desperately want to bring her home as i love her to pieces, but part of my concience is saying to me not to be mean and that she should stay there with my mum where she has found lots of new friends.

 

My OH would like some new girls and so thinks we should bring her home and just introduce her to them, but she would be 'on her own' so to speak being introduced to new girls and this would then leave her new chicken friend behind at my mums.

 

Should i bring her home and see how she gets on back on her own and then she how she does when we eventually get some more girls? Or would i be being being kinder to leave her where she is?!! I find it so upsetting and i miss having her around greatly but ultimately i want what is best for her.

[Olly]

This is a hard one, and you have my sympathies. Being objective about it (and that's easy when you're at a distance, not so easy when you know the individual birds concerned!) i would say leave Florence with her new friend, because she's gone through the bonding process there, and is happy. Yes, you will miss her, but if you get some new girls although they won't replace her, they will fill that chicken-shaped gap in your life.

 

If you bring her home, she's either going to be alone or have to get used to some other new friends; is it worth the aggro of introductions? As I say, that's easy for me to say and it's a hard decision for you.

[Tutti Frutti]

Would your mum give up her girl so you could bring them both home?

[Guest]

Hi,

 

It is your choice and I know it is hard but in my opinion I would let her stay there if she is happy with the others and start afresh for you.

 

I know you love her but it might be best for her and not put her through new introductions if she is old.

 

But it is your choice at the end of the day. See how you feel when the time comes.

[Egluntyne]

I'd let her stay too, unless, as has been suggested, your mum will let you have her hen too.

 

If she stays where she is, you won't have the trauma of introducing new hens to her.

[Daffodill]

What a tough one you obviously love her very much-I think you would have to try and see if she will sleep with her friend happly so you can have your eglu back then you can have new girls or bring both back home if your mum can spare her girl. It does seem a shame to separate her now she is happy with another chicken and trying to introduce her to new hens could really spoil things. What ever you decide good luck

[Tutti Frutti]

I've just realised something else that might help you make up your mind... not very positive thought but being realistic, you've had her over 2 years since her rescue so she'll be around 3 to 3.5 years old which is a good age for an ex-batt. Perhaps she wouldn't cope with the shock of being introduce to a gang of youngsters?

 

Just food for thought, sorry, I don't mean to be depressing!

[*mummy_hen*]

Thanks all for your advise. To be honest i think in my heart of hearts i know the best thing for her is to let her stay where she is and i think that;s why i feel so sad about it!

 

I had discussed having Jenny (her ex-batt girlie) to come and live here with Florrie in her WIR and she was willing to consider it, the only thing is my mum has a very different set up to me. She has a very large garden with lots of other outside animals and Jenny has been used to that.

I am in no doubt i offer my girls a wonderful home and our garden is a fair size and they have access to all of it but no comparison to the space and areas to explore that they have living with my mum. I just wondered whether maybe Jenny wouldn't like the move, maybe she would just get used to it though!!

[Plum]

How difficult for you. Guess being exbats, either could go soon. No right or wrong about where they should be but if I was you I would want them together. And probably wrong I would bring them home to you, unless your mum is as fond of her chicken as you are of yours in which case its doubly hard. Anyway your mum has got the ducks and other animals.

[chicken bark]

What a tough decision.

 

I'd be tempted to suggest that she stay at your Mum's and you start again. But I also know how difficult that would be to actually do.

 

I do not envy you in the least. Sorry.

[hippy chick]

Oh dear what a tough decision for you. I personally would leave her with your mum, she is settled and has made new friends. And you would still be able to visit her. And then you could get some new girls.