ClaudetteDay Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 (edited) we sadly lost our ex batt, sookie, today from sour crop and now we have to make the final decision on whether to keep our lulu or re-home her? she's always been a little street wise fighter (her nickname is 'urchin') but i can't help but worry whether the isolation from other chickens will have a negative impact on her. although out of the two that we were left with we always said lulu would be fine own as the only time she relied on sookie (she'd always bug-ger off and leave her) was at bedtime when she'd snuggle underneath her to keep warm, but to solve that minor problem i'm considering buying a pet crate and keeping her in my bedroom at night she'd be kept as a house chicken (forget the coop-hasn't been used for the past 5 or so months) so she wouldn't be by herself per say, there's always people in the house. the idea of re-homing her and the problems it could entail is traumatizing enough for me, let alone her. i'm truly stumped at what to do, any suggestions? Edited March 2, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 normally I would be saying rehome but as she is a house chicken (how does that work...I imagine poop everywhere ) and you say she had company most of the time I would suggest that you keep her with you and watch how she is affected..she may be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudetteDay Posted March 2, 2012 Author Share Posted March 2, 2012 (edited) normally I would be saying rehome but as she is a house chicken (how does that work...I imagine poop everywhere ) and you say she had company most of the time I would suggest that you keep her with you and watch how she is affected..she may be fine the entire downstairs flooring is wood, so the poop wouldn't be much of a problem, and she's only been known to make a mess when she's sneakily made her way past us and ran upstairs, which is a common habit of hers. about a month ago we lost her for roughly two hours, turned the whole house upside down in an attempt to find her. we checked every nook and cranny at least a dozen times. incidentally we looked underneath my parents duvet covers and long and behold we found the lump , the little urchin decided to take a nap on the bed (she had already laid). she certainly didn't go out her way to make her presence known like she usually does, she put us through absolute hell. i guess we'll just take each day as it comes. if we notice one sign of difference, we'll consider re-homing her. hopefully my mum will cave in and let me rescue another chicken, as it would just be heartbreaking to give lulu away. maybe if i promise to take more responsibility in looking after them, take some of the work off her hands? but i can totally understand where my mum is coming from, they're certainly a handful, especially as house chickens (too cold to keep them outside, they always catch colds ) thanks a lot Edited March 3, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Please don't rehome her if at all possible. You are all she has known apart from her life in the battery. She knows you, her routines, her home & human family. Could you not acquire a couple of others to keep her company. Not trying to make you feel bad but I don't think its easy for a single hen being rehomed. You sound like a great little poultry keeper,and your doin' a grand job. Keep it up. Alli x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayleybug Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 aww bless her she sounds lovely! i would echo the above message, can you get her a couple of friends? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudetteDay Posted March 3, 2012 Author Share Posted March 3, 2012 Please don't rehome her if at all possible. You are all she has known apart from her life in the battery. She knows you, her routines, her home & human family. Could you not acquire a couple of others to keep her company. Not trying to make you feel bad but I don't think its easy for a single hen being rehomed. You sound like a great little poultry keeper,and your doin' a grand job. Keep it up. Alli x thanks for all the replies guys, it's much appreciated. we've come to a final decision regarding the re-homing - it's most definitely not going to happen. we'll just play it by year and if need be, we'll consider rescuing one or two for company. but so far lulu is doing fine on her own, she's happily grooming herself on my dog's bed whilst watching tv, but i was so distraught seeing her put herself to bed last night, so i've gone and bought a pet crate so she can sleep by my side. you can safely say she's officially a house chicken. sadly sometime today we have to bury my poor sooke i can't handle all this heartbreak. once again, thanks for all the nice comments x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 i reckon she will be fine as an only house chook.. I agree with all of the above enjoy! speaking from experience a toilet roll in every accessible room is a must Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 So sorry you lost Sookie It is so hard when you are close to them. Sounds to me as though Lulu doesn't know she's a chicken anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 You're some keeper, CD and one lucky hen Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I know it isn't "the done thing" to keep a house chicken, but I agree with you. My friend had an ex batt that didn't successfully integrate with the others and she has been a house chuck ever since. My friend is braver than I. Chuck has full run of the house, (poop ) Sometimes things just happen. Even if you got more girls, what's to say they will all settle, if she is happy in your company then leave her to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
