Sooo much pooping

[CannyCat]

We've had chickens for about 6 years, but for various reasons we're not planning on getting more once the current flock is gone. We recently lost the 2nd-last chicken, leaving just one on her own and we don't know what to do with her, really.

 

She's about 3 1/2 so not a spring chicken (lol), she doesn't lay anymore etc. Would it be less cruel to let her live out her days in our garden on her own, or put her through the upheaval of rehoming her? We have a friend that we think would take her; he has a flock of about 6 hens plus a cockerel, but we're concerned this might be even more stressful than being lonely.

 

Any advice greatly appreciated!

[dance in the dark]

From what I understand this is a common problem, and I know they always say you should keep the chickens in groups, but I think for an old girl (hybrid or pure breed?) I would just keep her let her live out her days where she knows. If she doesn't lay anymore a cockerel would probably not be welcome.

 

I don't know, and there will be much more experience keepers out there, but it's what I would do.

[Tweety]

I would wait and see how she gets on as a lone hen. As a general rule, chickens do need to be part of a flock, but I have heard of cases where a lone hen has been fine and, as you say, at her age it might be less stressful for her than having to cope with a cockerel. I guess a lot depends on the individual bird - how is she at the moment?

 

You can always rehome her with your friend In due course if she is not thriving on her own.

[Snowy]

Personally with an older lone hen, I would be tempted to leave her for a while and see how she gets on. If shes happy enough, leave her alone, if she is distressed you at least have the option of rehoming her.

[CannyCat]

Thanks so much - we'll keep her as a solo hen, then, and see how she fares. At the moment she is using our cat for company, they wash together on the patio lol

[Chortle Chook]

I've not had this situation, yet, but I'd be tempted to keep your old gal on her own. My aunt used to have a cat / hen pair and both lived to ripe old ages constantly in one another's company. They were very sweet together. Initially there was a rabbit too but she did not live quite as long as the other two.

 

Also, have you thought of putting up a mirror at chicken hight? That might be worth a try. Just thought of it because of an article in "Your chickens" about someone who showed their lone chook pictures of chickens on their lap top (guess they did not value their screen too much )

[WitchHazel]

What about getting another older hen as company? Or finding someone else who has only one girl, and rehoming your girl that way?

 

Alternatively, I know you said you don't plan on getting more, but what about getting a POL. When your current old lady dies, you'd then have a much younger chicken to rehome, which would probably be easier.

 

I know people report that their lone chickens are fine, and maybe they are, especially if there are people around all the time.

 

I do wonder though.

 

Chickens are flock animals, and need the company of others (preferably other chickens).

Like all animals, chickens don't get up in the morning and think about life and then get in a particular mood. They don't go around moaning abot how lonely they are, or weeping, or lie in bed all day because they can't be bothered to get up. They just get up and get on with living...it's very difficult for them to show that they are unhappy or lonely (unless they really deteriorate of course). Of course when they see you thwy will look alert and bright - you are Company!

 

It's what they are like when there isn't any one around that would worry me.

[Chortle Chook]

I feel sure that other animals and people can provide a chicken with company just the way they do a dog (also a group animal), though another of the same species (for both chicken and dog) would be better.