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

[Bobbys Girl]

This has to be one of the hardest posts I have had to make.

 

I had to take Mac to the vet on sat and although I brought her home, they are of the opinion that she will ultimately die (if she doesn't show signs of improvement in the next few days I will have to have her PTS)

 

I will then be left in the position of having a healthy chicken (Aggie a Scots Dumpy) as a solitary bird, as I am no longer in a position to have the time to dedicate to new hens (change of jobs).

 

Is there any advice on how to rehome her?

 

I am completely heartbroken and do not want to loose either of them, but ultimately their needs must come first.

 

I am based in the Kinross area of Scotland and ANY help/advice would be gratefully received

 

Michelle

[chickencam]

Do you have a breeder or supplier of hens nearby? The one we use will advertise on their site which has a rehoming section. They tend to have a good many contacts in the chicken keeping world.

[Bobbys Girl]

Thanks so much for your post.

 

I will look and see if there are any in our area.

 

I am so distraught at the thought of her being on her own and don't want either of them to suffer.

 

Just really don't know what to do for the best.

 

M x

[gavclojak]

Do you have facebook/twitter? maybe pop a message on your FB page.

Have you tried a local petting farm or the like?

[Egluntyne]

Have you thought about trying to re home her via the Omlet Marketplace. There is a link to it in this -sticky-. Click on the 'chicken breeds link on the page you are sent to and take it from there.

[Bobbys Girl]

Mac is not getting any better so I've made the difficult phone call and I'm taking her to the vets this evening.

 

I'll give Aggie a few days to see how she gets on, but my friend knows a farmer that has open days and has something like a pets corner that may take her. If not think there's a guy that keeps a flock down the road that I can ask.

 

But I worry about her being introduced into a large existing flock on her own and getting hurt.

 

Tried asking for help from a 'society' but ran into a brick wall and they were anything but friendly or helpful (ended up in tears)

 

Have ordered lots of pecking blocks and boredom breakers to keep her occupied, out of the 2 of them she's the most independent and has the biggest 'attitude'

 

Thanks for all your help

 

M x

[Beantree]

There is always a chance that she will be fine on her own Bobbys Girl, albeit a slim one. We had a miserable badly bullied hen and when separated on her own took on a whole new personality. She started talking to us a lot, loved the cage in the house and would walk through the kitchen and hallway to it and even started laying again.

[Bobbys Girl]

Thanks so much Beantree x

[loumabel]

We have kept one hen on her own too after others died and she was fine. Give it a couple of weeks and see how she goes, she may be ok.

[Alis girls]

Also had a solitary hen. She was very spoiled she now got 2 mates. Hope you find a satisfactry solution.

[Bobbys Girl]

Mac is now at peace

 

Thankyou all for your posts. I'm now feeling a little more hopeful for Aggie.

[gavclojak]

Sleep tight Mac x

[mullethunter]

Good tale of a lone hen here too. My great uncle had one on his farm for years and she always seemed perfectly happy. You wouldn't see her for ages and then she'd pop up in the lambing shed!

 

Sorry about Mac and fingers crossed for Aggie.

[WitchHazel]

Sorry to hear about Mac.

[Princess Leia]

Our Poppy had about 18 months on her own after Scramble died. She seemed fine with it, although she did have some company from Flash the rabbit during that time when they were both out in the garden together.

[Leicester_H]

I've had 2 lone chickens (at different times, obviously!).

They were both fine, given extra attention.

I was worried about sleeping alone in winter and so brought them in (put cat box in run, when settled, put front grill on box, brought into utility room).

I think it very much depends on the hen - the older they are, the better they seem to cope.

 

Hope it works out for you, H

[Bobbys Girl]

Just thought I'd post an update.

 

It's a week now since we lost Mac (thanks for all your posts) and Aggie seems to have come into her own.

 

We let her Free Range round the garden as often as we can with our dog (Freya) and she's constantly chattering away to us.

 

I've put a mirror in her cage and she's chattering away to that too

 

She doesn't seemed fazed at all and seems really happy (in fact she has laid 4 eggs for us!) Each night we shut the Eglu door to keep her warm and safe.

 

So although it's still early days, it looks as though it will be a good outcome.

 

I am so relieved as I wan't ready to loose either of them (let alone both in a short space of time)

 

Once again thanks so much for your posts and well wishes

 

Michelle x

[mullethunter]

Glad she seems to be doing ok