Wanted Please - Harrogate / York / Leeds area

[blueandwhite]

Hi Ebay had been poorly all week, I took her to the vet today and there was nothing they could do so I had to consent to her being put to sleep. I know she had a good life and was 4 and it was the kindest thing to do, but so sad. Not helped by my boss saying 'well they do tend to snuff it' when I returned to work red eyed. Anyway I only ever had 2 girls (I hadn't realised being new to chicken keeping when I got them that I would have been better getting 3) so now I only have one. I know I can't leave her on her own for long but can't face rushing into getting another. My remaining girl is a Bluebelle and I'm wondering if I should get 2 new ones or just one more and what breed. I have quite a small garden and the 2 were just right. I would be grateful for any advice on the best thing to do now please. Thanks in advance.

[Cheeky Chooky]

Sorry to hear that *hug* You don't need to rush into anything...see how your remaining girl is over the next week...it'll give you some time to think *hug*

[blueandwhite]

Thank you I've just had to tell my son, we are going to have a good think about what to do.

[Luvachicken]

I'm sorry you lost Ebay.

[chickanne]

Sorry to hear about Ebay. Phoebe will be fine for a while until you are ready to get her new room mates. Don't rush into it as when you do get them you will need to put time and effort into the introductions. Have just been in the same situation as you and it is a lot to cope with but you will pull through.

 

Keep smiling and enjoy chicken cuddles with Phoebe.

[blueandwhite]

Thanks chickanne glad you are okay now.

[Nelmel]

I lost 2 to a fox and got 2 straight away as I had one lone hen who was miserable being alone. I didnt think Id grow to like the new ones as much but 4 weeks on theyre eating out of my hand and following me about. Its hard and I dont know how many times I can go through the deaths but we persevere!

[Clucking_Mad]

Oh Blue and White I am so sorry you lost Ebay I know exactly how you feel over the last 4 weeks I have lost 2 of my girls which has also left me with a Bluebelle (Ethel). I didn't want to get anymore as they were my first girls and I was so upset to have lost them both in such a short space of time.

 

However Ethel got very lonely and noisy so after a week me and the OH had a good chat and decided to get 2 new friends for her. We looked at various breeds and decided that a Faverolle and a Orpington would be good to put with her and then went chicken shopping.

 

Well we didn't come home with what we decided on instead we came home with a Cream Legbar cross which we have named Dorothy & a naked neck which we have named Beryl I have posted some pics if you feel up to having a look.

 

We have a home built WIR & we put the Omlet run inside the WIR we let Ethel have her usual space and put the new girls in the Omlet run. At night we would let the new girls go to bed & settle down and then let Ethel go to bed we have done this for a week now and yesterday we let them all share the same space but supervised by us and there was a few pecks here & there but nothing to bad and now the pecking order is sorted and today they have even been free ranging together within the Omlet netting we have and so far so good.

 

I hope this helps some how and I so sorry for your loss it is hard sending big hugs xxx

 

Laura x

[blueandwhite]

Thanks Laura for kind words and thoughts. I'm glad yours are settled again. Yes Phoebe was very noisy yesterday, my son said 'do you think she is calling Ebay?' - gulp! We are going to go and have a look at the farm I went to originally on Saturday as the lady was very helpful and as I only have an eglu classic and original run I will have to think of a way to separate them initially. Luckily I don't work Mondays which will give me 3 days with them to see how they get on. So fingers crossed. x

[chickanne]

Glad to hear you are going chicken shopping at the weekend.

 

Louise shrieked and howled when she met the newbies for the first time "Mummy, take them away, I'm scared!" but it is only three weeks on and you'd never know they had not all arrived together. I think Ruby and Millie had no problems being submissive because they were used to being in a big group but Louise had no idea how to react. If anything, Thelma was top chook, but you never saw this in reality. Now Louise knows the others will defer to her she has calmed down and will actively seek out their company.

 

Just make sure Phoebe has plenty of cuddles and treats and gets attention first. When you are training/treating the new girls do this out of her sight. The head pecks look worse than they are and the newbies, I'm sure, pretend to be more afraid than they really are to signal their submission. Just make sure your son understands what is going to happen so he is not upset by it. Three days should be enough for you to decide how close they can be to one another when you go to work.

 

Let us know how you get on,

[blueandwhite]

Thanks chickanne all good advice. I have just purchased some trellis to make a temporary run (I used this in the last garden to keep the original pair off the grass and it worked so should be okay). I'm still pondering whether to get one or two (as mentioned garden is small and only got original omlet run, but they do FR for an hour in the morning, once I get home and at weekends when we are around); I feel I coped well with two but aware that Phoebe is also an 'older' chicken now! Will let you know how it all goes.

[chickanne]

It does feel weird having three at the moment but I think it helped two settle in together. Also, Louise is 3 so it is a bit of future-proofing too. L doesn't lay many eggs as it is.

 

Good hunting!

[Millie-Annie]

I got left with a lone chicken and because I felt sorry for her I let her free range all over the garden all the time. She became really tame. She actually became too dependant on me as when I put her back in her run if I was going out, even if it were only midday she would put herself to bed in a huff. I decided the day I found her under my chair sharing my tea, she really needed a chicken friend. That was when we bought the amazing Marigold chicken.