LizzieLloyd Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 2014 hasnt been a great year for our hens as Prissy died in January during a moult, Marjey died last Saturday of what we think was a heart attack and yesterday we had Gerie PTS because of a suspected tumour in her crop. We are now left with Mad Mary who is a very lively 5 yr old light sussex bantam. I know the obvious response is to get her friends but unfortunately the other half has ruled out us getting any more birds so my question is what can we do to make Mary's life as great as possible? She is a very feisty bird who currently doesn't seem the slightest bit bothered that she's alone and is currently charging around the garden enjoying the sunshine looking for treats. Suggestions would be most welcome as shes a great bird and I want her to be as happy as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Sounds like her life is already great LizzieLloyd. Some hens, especially older ones, are quite happy on their own in very familiar surroundings. We had one who used to make foody noises like a cockerel to her little flock of one; herself. She was separated due to illness and she didn't want to go back. Even started laying again, which is a sure sign of happy and secure in an older hen. I would say do nothing at all until you can see Mary is unhappy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted March 21, 2014 Author Share Posted March 21, 2014 Thanks so much Beantree. I know they are flock animals but in this circumstance we wont be getting more so I just want to make her happy and didn't know if people had suggestions to keep her entertained and her life enriched. To be honest considering she has lost two of her buddies this week she's laid two eggs so I guess that must be a good sign. If she starts looking sad or off her food we will know immediately as she is quite a character! I've been encouraging her into the kitchen too as we are happy for her to come and join us if it makes her happy. I used to joke that the last hen would become a house hen so maybe that's an option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 Ours became a house hen Lizzie. She used to come in and wander through the house to her cage and put herself to bed in it. The door was shut behind her later and she would stay in there until she was carried out to her run next morning. She had chronic swollen feet which is untreatable, but she blanked out the obvious pain and laid regularly in her 'day coop'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted March 23, 2014 Author Share Posted March 23, 2014 Well I think Mary has settled into the single lady lifestyle beautifully. Today she joined us whilst we ate Sunday lunch and is very happy FRing in the garden. She's laying well as well which is a nice surprise given her age. I get a little sad when I tuck her into the nest box at night but OH has drawn the line at me having her sleep in the house. Especially as she pooped on the kitchen floor earlier today! Only downside is she has started crowing on a morning. Hopefully this isn't a permanent fixture! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 I think a lone hen can be happy if they have you as company. My Millie chicken ended up on her own and she just trotted round the garden after me. The only problem was if I had to put her in her run because I was going out, she would put herself into the nesting box regardless of the time of day, almost as if she were sulking "if I can't be with you I am going to bed" sort of thing. One day I had a cup of tea in the garden, and she was sitting under my chair. I looked down and she was drinking my tea out of the mug. I thought this has to stop Millie Chicken, you are not human, so we bought her Marigold as a friend and she was happy with Mad Marigold. But if you can't have anymore chickens I am sure that, like Millie, she will be happy being a human chicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Leia Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I must admit - we were worried when Poppy became "Hen Solo" last October, especially as we pretty much only saw her in daylight at the weekends. But she still seems happy by herself. We let her FR as much as possible. She chases the rabbit, the rabbit chases her (they're as bad as each other). She follows the dog around sometimes. She enjoys our company when we are outside as well, although she likes to kick the contents of the garden onto the patio (which is about 5ft below the garden). We were thinking about getting a couple of POL's as well, but have decided against this now as we don't have any separate accommodation for introductions and in case they didn't get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Whilst I would always recommend having more than one hen I do know that they do live reasonably happily alone for a period of time as most of my show birds do around 5 months of the year. Faced with an indefinite period alone ahead of her though I would maybe think about rehoming your hen or getting another then rehoming the pair of them later if necessary, Its all very well for your hubby to say 'no more hens' but they are essentially flock birds and are happier living with at least one other and you have to question the fairness of an individual life longer term, the hen could easily live another 2-5 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted March 24, 2014 Author Share Posted March 24, 2014 Awww Redwing now I'm in a quandary I wouldn't know where to start thinking about re-homing her. TBH that wasn't really an option I had thought of as she's my little girl and I had anticipated keeping her to the end. I don't want her to be unhappy but now you've mentioned she may live for years I don't know what to do for the best and I certainly don't want her to be unhappy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Very difficult to re-home a single hen Lizzie. She is likely to be badly bullied and always alone so will have a rather miserable life in comparison to her present one. Some reputable breeders won't sell single hens for that reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 Thanks Beantree. I will continue as planned and cross that dreaded bridge if it comes. At the moment she is a very happy (and extremely spoilt) hen so long may it continue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 This is interesting as I think quite a few of us will reach this stage eventually when we finally decide to call it a day from hen keeping and I have wondered about it, not that I'm there yet. I have had experience of hens buddying up with other household pets. My aunt had a white legbar who buddied up with a large white rabbit and a tabby cat. The three went everywhere together and I think were quite happy in one another's company for quite few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I think as she is already five, seems more than happy enough and is even laying still, I'd be inclined to leave things as they are and just keep giving her all the human attention she so clearly enjoys. We've just introduced two newbies to our sole hen after her sister was PTS and all did go well, thank goodness, although Daisy did initially seem exhausted by trying to follow two very active new chooks around to keep an eye on them. And she's only 3 - I think if she'd been older then we'd not have bothered with any replacements until she passed on. Your older lady might find it really traumatic to have to cope with any new hens and equally with moving anywhere new where she might not have it quite so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 An update on Mary's progress is that she is thoroughly loving single life. With the warmer weather our kitchen door is usually open and Mary is now very much at home in the kitchen and has gotten very comfortable with our two cats who find her intrusion a slight annoyance - especially as she likes drinking out of their water bowl. Its funny as she was without doubt the least approachable of our 5 girls and very rarely crouched for us let alone let us near her to pick her up. Now however she always crouches for me and is very comfy being cuddled. Its quite a transformation and a very pleasant one! Still crowing at 6am unfortunately but we are trying to keep her in the coup until 8am to give the neighbours a decent sleep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Pleased to hear that she is very happy LizzieLloyd, but Mary is 'crowing' at 6.00am though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 Not sure what's going on with the cockerel envy but she has developed a VERY healthy cockadoodledoo. We forgot to close the pop hole a couple of nights ago and at 5.55am the wake up alarm chorus started as she paraded around her WIR. We were NOT happy (did lots of apologising to the neighbours)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Not unheard of for hens to become cockerel "imitators" LizzieLloyd. Damage to the ovary can stimulate testosterone release and their comb and wattles will grow and they will crow. They will also tread hens, but without fertilising them. Apparently one in 10,000 hens develops this condition I read, but in my experience it is far more common than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted April 4, 2014 Author Share Posted April 4, 2014 every time the kitchen door is closed... we get this! Spoilt doesnt come close!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 So sorry to hear about all the stress you've been through I can't offer any further advice but I wanted to comment on how gorgeous Mary is! I love the Sussex patterns. Good luck with her in the future x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted April 4, 2014 Author Share Posted April 4, 2014 Thanks Mrs B. She seems to be happy enough although she would live in the house given the opportunity! Dont want to let her come into the lounge though as the poop is a nightmare to get out of carpet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 You can get '1001 troubleshooter' LizzieLloyd (yellow spray unit). Remove the worst, spray and scrub. It dries and anything that was there gets loosened and vacuumed up. Been using it for years. Problem is you get little very clean areas on the carpet. We don't let our pet onto the best stuff. Chickens cannot be litter trained so they need a 'diaper'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
