Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[l_ouise]

Hi,

 

I originally had three chickens. Our favourite personality suddenly died and the other two were skittish without her and because of this we became less tolerant of the mess they made all over the garden.

 

I decided to buy two chicks and raise them and they'd be super friendly, the other two would come out of their shells again and we would live happily ever after. Sadly it didn't work out like that and the chicks became the most antisocial hens you could imagine. One was super timid and the other would seek and destroy anything and everything.

 

The original two did seem to perk up a bit more having someone to boss... Until another one died!

 

So I was left with a hardly laying 4 year old with two deformed feet and two laying 1 year olds in fine health but whom we really disliked. The mess was now intolerable so they got locked up in their run. It is only 4ft by 8ft so I felt awful for them and decided it would be best to rehome the young ones while someone might still want them for something other than the pot. The original hen would stay with us until she died, or lived forever knowing my luck.

 

Well the two younger ones have gone to what sounds like an amazing home. The guy even wanted to know their names.

 

The remaining hen, however, has gone from bossy to very shy. Her face has reddened up some but still, she won't leave her run. It didn't feel right to palm her off when we've had her for a few years but I don't know if she's sad.

 

I'm wondering if it is what it is or if I should try to rehome her with the other two asap? I am aware that she would effectively be joining 3+2 chickens already getting to know each other and I worry they won't let her be the boss it's in her to be.

 

Thanks

[Hayleybug]

i think from my limited knowledge that chickens dont like to be solitary, and need to be part of a 'pack' although some people on here have successfully kept single chooks. she sounds like she is lonely if she wont come out of the run, if I were you I would rehome her or get another chook or two to keep her company. If you go to have a look at some chickens you can see how they behave with other chickens. i guess it is luck of the draw whether you get some with a nicer temperament though.

out favourite dotte died only 7 months after arriving with us, and I seriously considered giving up and rehoming the other two as the top chook timed the death of our favourite with becoming extremely broody which was hard to know how to deal with when new to chooks!

i'm glad to have persisted though.

not sure that has helped at all!

[Valkyrie]

If you do try with another couple of chickens then it's best if they are both new to each other as well so that all 3 will smell different and hopefully get on better, but perhaps it would be best to rehome her and you have a chance to rethink as whether to try again or get the garden back (and if you do opt for trying again then give it a good break in between). One of our chicks developed into a ratbag and the other is skittish (will be 6 next year). If you want a bird that isn't so flighty I'd go for Orpingtons or Pekins. They are just overly friendly - and easy to catch usually. I'm still wanting a brahma and faverolle because they are also said to be very docile. It's the marans that are the scaredy cats in our garden, yet other people have friendly marans. Seems to be that buff Sussex birds can be grumpy, so next time it will be a light Sussex for me. We only have one pekin left and she's my favourite now.

[mullethunter]

TBH it sounds like you've fallen out of love with chicken keeping. Maybe it would be best to rehome your girl and think again about whether you really want hens around