Chicken left alone - mysterious deaths and how to introduce new chickens

[Cathpot]

Very sad couple of weeks in that we lost two of our three chickens.

We are not 100% sure what happened but due to timings and odd nature of symptoms it’s possible they have been poisoned and that a culprit could be the many different mushrooms that have popped up all over the garden.

They have been healthy and problem free for nearly 2 years -in a big run and let out daily to free range. When we lost the first one and had a second looking unwell we kept them in the run for over a week to see if we could narrow down the problem. Put them on worming pellets , took DE to feathers and dustbath , gave them boost with treats like scrambled egg, sterilised water container etc. The second chicken rallied, was eating again and running about so we let them out Monday to free range and she died first thing Tuesday, unable to stand without falling, barely keeping her eyes open.
We obviously aren’t going to do anything in a hurry in case it’s actually something else and the last chicken is now in run for the next couple of weeks while we keep an eye on her.

If she is well , long term I would like to get her some companions but all the introduction advice is for a small number of new chickens into an established flock not to a chicken on her own. Would it better to get just one chicken for company first - and possibly another later to get us up to 3 again? It looks like it’s better to get the same breed again ( she is a local hybrid) rather than breeds that are different in size?

I would completely clean and sterilise your coop and I wouldn’t leave her on her own for too long chickens are very sociable and love their friends. I’m just about to put three youngsters in with my oldies tonight. I won’t get much sleep lol. Go to a reputable breeder and they will help you.

We got down to one chicken after a fox attack 😢. We were told not to outnumber them with new chickens. So did 1 new chicken. Original chicken pecked new hen a bit till she felt sure she knew she was boss then all good. Then we’d have to introduce next chickens in a pair...but we’ve stuck at two. If you introduce individual chickens to a new group they get bullied out...but one on one is ok.

Thanks- I’d been wondering about doing it that way - one hen at a time. I’d like to be up to 3 ideally but will see. She just gone full into a hard molt so I’ll wait I think- don’t want bare skin on show to new hen. She has continued to be healthy, eating well etc but she is obviously feeling the loss of her little flock - I let her out today and sat in the garden and she stayed within a couple of metres of me the whole time which isn’t normal for her at all.