Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Clairey_Fairy]

I am hoping you will be able to advise me. I have had my 2 hybrids for 18 months without problems, but sadly lost one today as she had a prolapsed vent which could not be put back So this leaves me with one poor lonely chicken. I don't really know what to do. Until now the chickens have had free range of our whole garden, which isn't that big, and it's been fine, but the grass is suffering, and we now have a young baby so would like some chicken free lawn. I was going to fence off half the garden. Anyway, i dont want my remaining chicken to get lonely and not sure whether to try & introduce another hybrid, but could find myself in the same situation in a few years, I don't want 2 more as don't really have room. Could rehome her, but would hate to do that! Or what I fancy doing is adding 2-3 bantams to make a slightly bigger 'flock' in the hope they would not damage lawn as much and keep remaining chicken company. Also be good for the baby.

I have an eglu classic and 2 metre run.

Any advice on what to do in this situation greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[sadietoo]

I'm sorry to hear that you lost your girl.

 

I would have thought two banties would be fine spacewise,but not sure how your existing girl would take to them to start with. My hybrid was very placed when with her original pal, but extremely feisty when we tried to introduce her to another girl so we had to take it very slowly.....

 

I think I'm right in saying that others have kept a girl on their own for a while, quite happily (although I know it isn't natural sometimes one girl ends up having to be separated from the rest due to bullying issues, so effectively they live on their own).If I were you I'd give yourself a month to think about it. You single girl won't come to any harm in that time.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear about your little hen . If you let your girls freerange most of the time, I think 3 in a classic and 2m run would be fine. It probably wouldn't be easy to get a lone hen in any case, you'll normally be offered a pair. I use Omlet netting (other brands are available ) to keep my girls contained and off the grass and it works brilliantly.

 

Like Sadietoo says, there's no tearing hurry, so just take time to consider what will be the best option .

[Clare L]

I was in exactly the same position as you and found myself with one very lonely hen. So I took the plunge yesterday and got 3 new Bantam Orps The slept well together last night, and things are not going too badly today - gotten worse this afternoon tho! The little ones have retreated to the cube for some rest from the bigger girl now.

 

I will perserve with them all in together, as so far it has been better than I feared - when they came home my existing hen flew at the cat basket I was carrying the newbies in like a crazy ninja chicken

 

My existing hen has been horribly noisy tho today. Telling all the neighbours about her new sisters, or shouting how annoyed she is by these s"Ooops, word censored!"s of chickens I have put in her cage!

 

I would say, seeing them all together that if I was you I would not get only the one hen to add, as I think the torment would be relentless...at least with my having 3 newbies, the torment is spread around a bit

 

Good luck!

[Clairey_Fairy]

Thank you for your replies and advise. I certainly will make sure I take the time to think about the next step. It was just a bit of a shock to loose a girl yesterday and being down to one took me by suprise.

I am sure we will get more. Poor Stella is looking a bit lonely already, she was always the more independent one, (Ruby was always first in the kitchen and followed me everywhere), but today has been hanging around outside the french windows and following me if I go outside.

I'm not sure about bantams? So maybe 2 more hybrids? Hadn't really planned on ending up with 3 chooks, but sounds like this might be best? Can't bear the thought of parting with Stella, and I think she will need company, especially through the winter!

Any recomendations on best breeds? Accomodation will be a with 2m run, and although oftem they get to free range all day, when we are out etc they will be confined to the run. So I guess I'm asking for birds that are 'happy' to be confined if needs be, placid and good with kids, good layers would be a bonus too. Are there any hybrids that dig less??

Thamks again, Claire