MaryKate Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 We have lost three of our four girls this year - first to peritonitis, second to some sort of kidney problem and a fox took my beautiful Roxy last Sunday. We are still in shock from that one. So we are left with just Bella who is about a year old. She actually seems quite content on her own - having always been at the bottom of the pecking order, I think she is enjoying being able to have first pickings of everything and being able to sleep in the nest! So what do we do? It's been a really hard decision to make, but we do not intend to get any more chickens. We will miss them incredibly - we love being able to go out and have them follow us round and chat away when they find a tasty morsel etc., but knowing there are at least 3 fox packs in the near vicinity has made the decision for us. Neighbours have also lost chooks recently - and one has electric fences around all his runs! So my inclination is to wait and see how Bella copes on her own, letting her FR only when we are outside, but a neighbour has sjuggested he can let us have one of his older girls to keep Bella company. Can chickens only be happy in a flock - even if the flock consists of just 2 birds? Any advice on adding an older hen to a younger one would also be appreciated. MaryKate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Firstly, I'm sorry to hear about your losses - unfortunately it sometimes happens that hens of a similar age all go together, and of course having one taken by a fox is really unlucky. The standard advice is that chickens fare better with a companion, and a 'flock' of two is absolutely fine - many people buy an Eglu and two hens and just stop at that number. (People with stronger wills than me!) There are people, and some of them will no doubt post on here, who say that they've had a single chicken and it has been quite ok, so if you decide to follow that option it may not be the worst thing for Bella. I've never had just one, so can't really comment on that. Introductions are never easy but I think 1:1 is probably easier than 1:larger number, because there can't be the ganging up and picking-on that happens with a larger flock. The best way is to have the hens where they can see each other but not reach ... it's all in the FAQs, I won't repeat it all here - but you could just try putting the two together and see how they get on. If you do this, just make sure there are two feeders/drinkers (a margarine tub will do on a temporary basis) so that the 'top' hen can't stop the other one eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamspencer98 Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Hi there, sorry to hear about your loss. Foxes aren't nice and things like this happen! I had 1 Silkie bantam that went in with 5 other large fowl hens, and she didn't get on well with them at all. So we moved her into our 'hospital coop' and see how she coped living on her own. She was doing fine, and loved it, but we felt sorry for her! I got a Pekin and another silkie to live with her and absolutely no problems at all. I was expecting fighting and everything, but no a lovely cuddle under the wing they got! My hens aren't Free range, I keep them in the chicken coop and as long as yours is large enough, mine is, there is no problem keeping them in the run... Its totally up to you obviously but this is just advice. The other thing you could do is invest in an incubator, which you can get a 10 egg manual turner for about £70. May seem expensive at first, but you can re-use it, so it covers your cost basically. If you need any more help, please ask, I don't mind! Best wishes,Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Sorry to hear about your loss. I have one ex batt on her own now but she is in a section of the WIR so she can see and chat to the hybrids. She seems quite happy but I wouldn't have kept her on her own in the seperate eglu and run. I would see how Bella goes and if she seems lonely I would introduce one, assuming you don't want to introduce a couple of chooks. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryKate Posted October 23, 2012 Author Share Posted October 23, 2012 Thanks all for your replies. It is so hard to know what to do for best so I really appreciate the views and comments from other chicken lovers (or nutters). I was out in the garden (despite the gloomy damp weather all day) and Bella seems really content just to get on with her chicken business and then just checks up on me now and again. I will go and inspect my neighbour's 'older bird' to see if she looks friendly and if so, then maybe Bella gets a new friend. I really couldn't face incubating my own eggs - I would have to do the dastardly deed to all the male chicks - just not able to do that sort of thing. We do have a pretty good WIR which is more than ample for 2 chickens but they have become so used to FR that they (well just Bella now) pace up and down like caged lions and we end up feeling really guilty. But I think she and her potential new friend are going to have to stay in the run if we are going to keep them safe. Thanks again. MaryKate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Hi I am so sorry to hear of your loss - it must have been heart breaking for you. My two chickens have taken an instant dislike to an ex-battery hen that I have tried to introduce - it went terribly and they both attacked at the same time, with her crouched down and screaming. They plucked her feathers out, took turns in sitting on her and tried to peck at her eyes. She had a cut to her comb and a limp - she is only a tiny thing and has obviously always been at the bottom of the pecking order. I just couldn't let it go on and have moved her into an Eglu classic and run, which are her retirement quarters and she loves it! She chats away to us now, has dust baths and preens and she wouldn't do that whilst the other hens were around. It isn't something I would have chosen to do, however, sometimes, it is just how it lands. She has a friend in the cat and they sit next to each other! I was so worried about her being on her own and was going to put another girl in with her, but I think she really has had enough. I have now come to the decision that that is where she will stay and the amount of singing and purring we get from her, is hopefully a sign that she is content with the situation. I will keep an eye on her and if I see a change, then I will look into what I can do but for now, will leave her in peace. She has a view of the other girls from one corner of the pen - but she avoids it now and chooses not to chat to them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryKate Posted October 31, 2012 Author Share Posted October 31, 2012 I've been without internet for a while now - thanks BT!!! So just an update on Bella's plight. I have only just seen your reply Libby22, so thank you for your comments - all very helpful and reassuring. Bella is still on her own but seeming to quite content. She now gets to sleep in the nest everynight (she never got to do this when Roxy was around!) She is laying everyday - I think she might have stopped if she was really stressed about being alone (but not sure); and she gets extra attention and conversation from us everyday! We have been clearing the garage all week (it will take at least another week - years of rubbish in there) but Bella seems to think it is heaven - goodness knows what she finds so interesting - but we are just pleased she seems to be coping on her own. So... no new friend for her - I think it she would be more stressed if we introduced a new chook (or a couple) and having found herself top of the pecking order (at last) it would be awful if she had to fight off some interloper. As you said Libby22, sometimes it is just how things work out. MaryKate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Bella sounds just like my Bonnie. She has found out what it is like to be queen bee and even if she doesn't have anyone to rule over, she is still going to enjoy living the high life Bonnie is such a character now - full of beans, not to mention full of cheek when she demands treats when you walk by, loving the nest box all to herself, laying every day like clock work, dustbathing, chatting to the cat and napping in the run. We may not have planned this life for them, but they certainly are lapping it up Really glad to hear Bella is enjoying herself too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosey Supposey Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Hello, just popping up to say I did the "one hen" thing, and it worked out fine - but we did really work at it. We changed the rules for little lone hen and she spent a lot of time in the house with us. Myself and other half worked full time, but changed our working hours to make sure there was someone around for her as much as possible. Heartbreakingly for us she'd sulk if she was left alone for more than a couple of hours (which rarely happened), and dramatically snub us on our return, but a few snacks always won her round. We really did watch her for any signs of unhappiness, and were fully prepared to find a solution if she seemed unhappy, but other than the odd snub there was nothing. She actually seemed more content on her own. She made her little happy noises much more often and really did learn to communicate with us stupid humans. She was on her own with us for 6 months before cancer claimed her, and we're happy that she was happy. Lone hen isn't a situation I'd want to be in by choice, but if the situation ever arose I'd keep an open mind and give it another go. Hope Bella's still doing great x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryKate Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 Just an upadate on 'not so lonely' Bella - like you Rosey Supposely - we are trying to make extra time for her so she doesn't become lonely, and she certainly doesn't seem to be - she tends to do her own thing for a short time and then comes to find us in the garden making little chirping noises to let us know when she has found something interesting. She is still laying every day and has at least two dust baths each day - so life as a lone chicken doesn't seem too bad. As you say, we didn't plan this to happen. She has always been a bit of an anxious, skitty girl, so I reckon making her become part of a new flock would really panic her. Much better to be top of her own pecking order! Mary Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
