only one chicken left, what to do now?

[zanz1bar]

we started with three last year, one was taken by the fox within a few days, so we ahd just the two for the last year.
Last night the fox got the black rock leaving a very lonely and confused silver.

what should i do, get two more and try to introduce them or will little silver be alright on her own?

[TunipTheHollowVegemalLantern]

Definitely get another one or two. My Sussex stopped laying when she was left on her own. She really wasn't happy.

[jaynebxl]

Aw I would definitely get more. Chickens seem to be very sociable creatures so I reckon they are happier in a group. Quite a few of my friends have successfully introduced more birds to their flock. Apparently one good way to do it is introduce the new birds at dusk when the old bird has already settled in her fave place for the night and is too tired to bother about newcomers.

[jaynebxl]

Ooo snap!

[zanz1bar]

thanks, she looks so lonely, will get two more next week.

[ditavonteesed]

I got down to one as well, intros were actually fine with 2 newbys and one resident.

[davidtroublemaker]

If any of you supported the ban on fox-hunting learn to live with the consequences...

[zanz1bar]

Dave go watch Dave if you can't be helpful

[ExitPursuedByABrrrrrrr]

Defintitely get more. Fox got three of ours recently and they have stopped laying. Very traumatised. Stable owner out lamping every night. Think it is an urban fox that has been relocated to the moors.

Dave - absolutely.

[ditavonteesed]

well, didnt see that one coming, has to be said dave there wasnt much fox hunting in the middle of the urben area I live in and urban foxes are far more of a problem than country ones. Also if things need to be killed I am led to believe a gun is much quicker.

[ExitPursuedByABrrrrrrr]

Only if the person doing the shooting is an expert marksman, and there aren't that many of those around.

[BinarySolo]

I'd rather lose the odd bird than see fox hunting reintroduced. It's my responsibility to keep my birds as safe as possible, the fox is just acting on instinct.

Jeez, the same logic has seen great white sharks and wolves persecuted and hunted to near extinction.

Good luck introducing the new crooks zanz1bar.

[zanz1bar]

Oh got a bit of a fox hunting argument started, well didn't see that happening.
In for a penny, here goes.
Can't stand fox hunting, can't stand fox hunters but that has more to do with my private ed, county upbringing and the dull hours spent listening to their self justifying, self satisfied, narrow minded oh you get the drift.

[stealthsquiggle]

A fox (we assume) got 2 of ours a couple of weeks ago. We have decided to leave the other 2 until new year.

Fox hunting connection is nonsense - we live in the middle of nowhere and this is the first time we have lost any. London friends have had chickens taken in broad daylight, and there never was a lot of fox hunting there.

[ditavonteesed]

zanz1bar you should know you can start an argument anywhetre on here without any effort. more importantly what you done with the chooks then?

[RooneyMara]

Poor old chooky. We introdued 5 new gals when we lost two to a fox, or was it three, in one morning (also urban if that's relevant) - no problems at all.

[RooneyMara]

We do keep them in a walk in run now, though, which is about 5 metres by 2 1/2. I'm not sure if they get really bored. I preferred it when they were free to mes about i nthe trees and grass, but it's that and live for about a week round here, or be shut in and have a longer life.

Difficult decision.

[Rosyisgonnabeamummy]

We had 4 and a cockerel - cockerel (elvis) died of natural causes in December. And 1 chicken of natural causes 12mth ago too. One was swooped on by a sparrow hawk.

2 left...... Still laying :-)
How long do they live for?

[OwlLady]

it would be quite easy to shoot a fox in your garden even in the country as they are pretty blasé. Not that i am suggesting you do this, or do i know whether it is legal and nor do I have a gun.

[Rosyisgonnabeamummy]

The hunting ban prevents a pack of dogs - being more than 2 dogs - hunting foxes. This is how they continue to hunt, by following an artificial trail.

[eilonwy]

Two of my ex-battery hens have now died (one lasted 9 months, and one 18 months). We have two left, and although it hasn't happened yet, I'm worried about when the next will die, leaving one alone. We don't want any more chickens after this but can't bear the thought of the last being lonely. I've been told you can't introduce a single hen into a group of hens due to bullying. What can we do when it happens?

[LemonBreeland]

Introducing at dusk and putting them straight into the house does work. I've done this twice now and not had too many problems.

eilonwy if you don't want any more and you are left with one then it would be best to rehome that one to someone else.

[eilonwy]

Thank you x Just been worried that my girl would be beaten up by a gang of girls if she was re-homed, but will bear this advice in mind. Hopefully won't happen too soon. They've had a good 18 months with us, which is apparently a long time in ex-battery land, so hopefully a little while longer. x

[Matildaduck]

I intriduced three new girls to our resident lady. She was very mean to them for a few days, then they resolved their issues and get on famously now.

I had to set up two feeding stations as she tried to stop them feeding :-)

[OooShiney]

Just wanted to add... We've had the odd death over time, introducing a lone chicken to an established flock can be hard but not impossible, it will take time for them to find their spot and there may be some fighting, we found having the new hen in a small run within the big run helped as they adjusted to having the new hen about, then mixing them at night and seeing how it goes, a few weeks til things settle down.

I have a single hen as foxy came last night and took two of my girls. She is one of my older hens that hasn't laid for a few years and was living out her retirement. Trying to find someone happy to have an addition to their flock that doesn't produce.

Was planning on the three of them being our last.