Wanted - Eglu Cube Mk1 Roosting Bars

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

I have recently lost two hens, due to some form of heart related illness, there breed, Cornish Rocks, are supposedly prone to this. I am really sad about all this of course, but Jillian passed away this morning leaving me with Kate. Kate is a healthy and friendly Blue Maran (sp?) I am really not sure what to do now, should I introduce a new hen, give Kate up for adoption, or leave her be. So far she is not showing any sign of distress, but I could not bare to watch her suffer.

Being in A-Level at the moment i can't spend time with her outside of school hours, but will make an additional effort to keep her company until a decision on what to do is made.

So I ask you, wonderful Omleters, what should i do?

Many thanks,

 

Ed

[chicken bark]

Sorry you have lost a couple of your girls.

 

She can only manage on her own for a few weeks unless she becomes a 'house chicken'. I'd get a new hen then in a couple of months time get two more. It is always best to introduce equal amounts of hens when you are talking about small numbers.

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

Thank you for the advice, but, what do you mean she can only manage for two weeks on her own?

Ed

[Chortle Chook]

Hens defintiely like to have company of their own kind. They feel rather vulnerable if they are on their own and could become stressed and depressed

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

Hi

 

I could never that happen to poor old Kate, would you recommend introducing a similar aged hen?

Many thanks.

Ed

[chuckmum6]

Personally I would get two similar sized hens they could pol, age is less important than size. But young stock will be better for you as you will have them for longer. Sorry to hear about your loss.

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

Hi

 

Thanks very much for your kind comments and help.

 

I shall look around the breeds section for similar sized birds available for adoption.

 

Thanks again,

 

Ed

[Chortle Chook]

Do let us know what new chooks you find and how it all goes. Really the sooner you can get her company the better. It's a bit like old ladies, if you leave them on their own too long they get very lonely but they sort of resent other people stepping onto their territory ( I speak from experience of my old mum) .

 

I'd have thought that you need to work out how dominant a hen Kate is and then find a friend or friends that would suit her temperament i.e. if she has always been non dominant then try a less dominant breed such as a Silkie, Frizzle, Orpington, Australorp or Dumpie. If she has been quite dominant previously then go for something that can hold its own but is still gentle, such as a Pekin or Bluebell. (These are only suggestions )

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

Hi,

Thanks for your helpful response. Kate is a very placid chicken, she looked after both Jillian and Steve when they were ill right up until the awful moment. I am not so sure of how to measure her dominance though.....

She is a big bird however, being a Blue Maran, and from what other comments I have read, it seams size is a very important factor. I was considering adopting an ex battery, but this seems out of the question now.

Any advice is as always gratefully appreciated,

Many Thanks.

Ed

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

Hey again, another question cropped up!

My friend has many hens and is offering some of his rehabilitated ex battery hens, would they be suitable?

Many thanks,

Ed

[Chortle Chook]

How about a nice big cuddly Buff Orpinton and perhaps a dark Australorp? They are both big but gentle girls.

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

Hi,

They look lovely, thank you ever so much.

Ed

[laurmurf]

ex-batts can be very 'fiesty' as they've had to survive a lot to keep going. If your remaining girl is a gentle one she could find herself being bullied. If you are introducing 2 new hens to her space then you'll have to be prepared for her to get a bit territorial even if she is usually placid, although i do think adding two is a good idea. How about two good sized birds but younger, just at POL?

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

Hi

Thanks for your answers, but, what does POL mean?

Thanks.

Ed

[chestnutmare]

Hi

Thanks for your answers, but, what does POL mean?

Thanks.

Ed

Point of lay, due to start laying/just started.

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

Thanks very much (brick wall moment I feel)

Ed

[chestnutmare]

Thanks very much (brick wall moment I feel)

Ed

No problem, we all suffer with those!

[Chortle Chook]

In my (rather limited) experience POL chooks are nolonger babies but might grow a tiny big more. Sort of like 16yr olds

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

Your chickens are 16 years old?

Wow

Ed

[chicken bark]

Some breeders sell chickens at POL when they are 16+ weeks. However not all breeds mature at the same time so while hybrids for example may lay at 18 weeks, another breed may not lay until many weeks later. POL is rather a general term.

 

Good luck with your choosing - this is one of the fun bits.

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

Hi all.

 

First of all, I would like to thank you for your fantastic advice. I have just bought a beautiful Ginger Buff Orpington.

She is very nervous at the moment, but I am sure she will settle in soon.

I have put her in the hen house with Kate, and they are now locked up, hopefully they will settle any differences and get to know each other.

I presume a bit of pecking is normal at this stage?

Thanks again.

Ed

[WitchHazel]

HI Ed

yes, a bit of pecking is normal. usually quite a lot of pecking (chasing, general dominating) is normal, while they sort out who's boss.

 

Even though you just have 2 hens, it would be worthwhile making sure you have 2 feeders and drinkers, a way apart, for the time being. That ensures that the dominant hen can't hog the only food source. Once they have sorted things out, you'll be able to go back to one feeder and drinker.

 

All the best

 

hazel

[Ed Picaloon C Boodle]

Hi Hazel

 

Thanks very much,

I have two seperate feeders and waterers, and they seem rather content snuggling up together in the house at the moment!

Ed

[Chortle Chook]

Well done on your Orp, Ed. In case you are still wondering 'What do I do now?' the answer is 'post pics'

[Plum]

That's right. Come on share the sight