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[AndreaT]

I need some advice from all you Omleteers please. I currently have 5 girls living in a and WIR and one girl, Fizz, living by herself in a

 

She has a damaged wing which now looks like it won't heal. She's seems quite happy but I'm sure she'd be better with a friend. I don't think she can go back in with others as, although they are fine if they manage to get to her side of the fence, they are very aggressive to her if she goes into their run/area. (She was in isolation before her wing injury as the had pecked all her tail feathers out and made her bleed! )

 

I'm thinking it would be easier for me and much more pleasant for her, if I bought another small WIR. The question is would it be ok to introduce another girl to live with her? My garden can't really take anymore than that and the others are a unit now and I don't think moving one of them would work for either of them.

 

As she is quite skittish I thought maybe something laid back like an orpington would work (plus I always wanted one ).

 

Thanks all.

[Mum]

Generally, it is advised not to introduce a single hen. Imagine if you did, then one dies you are back to square one again

 

Orpingtons are wonderful hens (I have two, so I admit bias).

 

To be really honest, I had a solitary hen. She was an ex-batt which a friend gave me and she lived a short, but very fulfilled life being the centre of attention in our very tiny garden of that time.

 

Can Fizz see the other girls from where she is in her ? If she can, she may not feel quite so lonely as you suspect. Unless of course it is the call of the Orp which may prove irresistble (It did with me )

[AndreaT]

Thanks mum.

 

She can see the others (she shouts at them a lot!) and they fr together, mostly on different sides of the netting but sometimes together. I'll probably get another wir for her anyway as the go is supposed to be the hospital wing not a permanent home. It must be very boring for her, she spends a lot of her time sitting in the coop, peering out through the door.

 

If I got 2 new girls would they be likely to gang up and pick on her? I just want her to be happy, she's not really had a good time of it since I got her and she's very sweet if a bit scatty! (and I would love an orpie or 2 )

[Mum]

Methinks you are going to go with a couple of Orps ... the vibes are steaming through your post!

 

Would they "gang up"? intro's are always a "process" of finding their pecking order - that will happen if you introduce one or two or twenty! But, it really should settle down after a week (in some cases, two weeks).

 

With Fizz having a damaged wing, Orps are a heavy breed and that may be an issue while the pecking order sorts itself out - be it one or even two Orps. Unless you went for Orp banties? Or, very young hens?

 

My limited experience is this: my oldest Orp has a permanent limp. She was added as a solo addition on the belief her size would be her advantage. It wasn't, the pecking order had to run its course. Even more recently, she was locked in the jaws of a fox and now has to contend with her limp and a slightly damaged wing. The others rush passed her and she's a tad unsteady, but she does hold her own despite her disabilities! She has a strong will that girl

 

On the boredom note, have you hung up a cabbage she can peck at? Maybe an old CD? Something to give her an interest? Perhaps an old washing up bowl with sand/soil so she can dustbathe? Even an apple threaded with string and dangled from the top of the run would give her some apple bobbing entertainment. Plus it would be great exercise for her And, when you do make intro's, having dangley things to interest one hen while the other sneaks behind to the feeder can help enormously.

[AndreaT]

Hmm, was it that obvious?

 

Your girl has really been through it hasn't she, poor thing. Glad she's doing ok.

 

 

Ok, so the plan of action is;

 

Give fizz something to play with.

Get a new run sorted.

Then decide whether to get new girls or not.

 

Thanks!

[Mum]

I like your plan