Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 Thank you for the advice, but, what do you mean she can only manage for two weeks on her own? Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 Hi I could never that happen to poor old Kate, would you recommend introducing a similar aged hen? Many thanks. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 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 ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 How about a nice big cuddly Buff Orpinton and perhaps a dark Australorp? They are both big but gentle girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 Hi, They look lovely, thank you ever so much. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Hi Thanks for your answers, but, what does POL mean? Thanks. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 HiThanks for your answers, but, what does POL mean? Thanks. Ed Point of lay, due to start laying/just started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Thanks very much (brick wall moment I feel) Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Thanks very much (brick wall moment I feel) Ed No problem, we all suffer with those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 In my (rather limited) experience POL chooks are nolonger babies but might grow a tiny big more. Sort of like 16yr olds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted April 2, 2011 Author Share Posted April 2, 2011 Your chickens are 16 years old? Wow Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted April 2, 2011 Author Share Posted April 2, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted April 3, 2011 Author Share Posted April 3, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Well done on your Orp, Ed. In case you are still wondering 'What do I do now?' the answer is 'post pics' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 That's right. Come on share the sight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
