Little orphan solo

[Washergirl]

This little hen has had a hard life. She’s about 9 months old now. Mom was a Cochin bantam and dad a partridge rock rooster. She lost her only flock mate and then her mom ( my favorite hen) to a snake. She tried to latch on to another momma but she wouldn’t have her. In the mean time we have had to remove 2 roosters from our small flock for aggressiveness. So we are down to 1 Cochin bantam rooster & hen, 3 partridge hens, an Easter egger and 2 polish hens and this little one. She stays by herself, sometimes I see her 10’feet away from the others with her head tucked in her wing (it’s been cold here) I try to separate them when I give out treats once a day so she gets extra proteins. She almost acts depressed . I’m contemplating getting some small young hens to maybe bond with her. I wish she was broody so I could put some chicks under her. Any suggestions? We have 2 coops the 4 large birds stay in the large coop, the polish and rooster move back and forth and this one stays in the smaller coop. The last two days she hid in our BBQ area so we scooped her up and put her in the small coop or the wildlife will get to her. Any suggestions?

 

[Debbie292d]

Do you have another safe pen you could put her with your nicest hen together in for about a week? They'd maybe bond so when let out, she would stick to that hen.

 

[Washergirl]

Do you have another safe pen you could put her with your nicest hen together in for about a week? They'd maybe bond so when let out, she would stick to that hen.

I have 1 other Cochin bantam hen and rooster. They sleep in the same coop 50% of the time ( the rooster goes back and forth between coops) one polish is in each coop. I may need to try that instead of trying to bring in new ones.

 

[Daisy June]

I have 1 other Cochin bantam hen and rooster. They sleep in the same coop 50% of the time ( the rooster goes back and forth between coops) one polish is in each coop. I may need to try that instead of trying to bring in new ones.

Why did my brain take me to Kody on Sister Wives?

 

[Daisy June]

This little hen has had a hard life. She’s about 9 months old now. Mom was a Cochin bantam and dad a partridge rock rooster. She lost her only flock mate and then her mom ( my favorite hen) to a snake. She tried to latch on to another momma but she wouldn’t have her. In the mean time we have had to remove 2 roosters from our small flock for aggressiveness. So we are down to 1 Cochin bantam rooster & hen, 3 partridge hens, an Easter egger and 2 polish hens and this little one. She stays by herself, sometimes I see her 10’feet away from the others with her head tucked in her wing (it’s been cold here) I try to separate them when I give out treats once a day so she gets extra proteins. She almost acts depressed . I’m contemplating getting some small young hens to maybe bond with her. I wish she was broody so I could put some chicks under her. Any suggestions? We have 2 coops the 4 large birds stay in the large coop, the polish and rooster move back and forth and this one stays in the smaller coop. The last two days she hid in our BBQ area so we scooped her up and put her in the small coop or the wildlife will get to her. Any suggestions?

That's so difficult to watch Do you have the time to sit outside with the flock each day, even if it's just five minutes? You could feed those snacks then and physically bring the hen over to the group or just hold her while you're in the midst of the flock.

 

[Washergirl]

That's so difficult to watch Do you have the time to sit outside with the flock each day, even if it's just five minutes? You could feed those snacks then and physically bring the hen over to the group or just hold her while you're in the midst of the flock.

That's so difficult to watch Do you have the time to sit outside with the flock each day, even if it's just five minutes? You could feed those snacks then and physically bring the hen over to the group or just hold her while you're in the midst of the flock.

Hmm, yes I actually sit with them every day for 20 min or more. She’s usually the last to come up to the chicken yard as they free range during the day. The last couple of days I would go find her and feed her wherever she was. I hated to do that but I felt she needed extra protein. I prefer they all come back to the yard to get their treats and I can sit and watch, count and clean up. I’ll try that today

 

[Daisy June]

Hmm, yes I actually sit with them every day for 20 min or more. She’s usually the last to come up to the chicken yard as they free range during the day. The last couple of days I would go find her and feed her wherever she was. I hated to do that but I felt she needed extra protein. I prefer they all come back to the yard to get their treats and I can sit and watch, count and clean up. I’ll try that today

I know it's tough, Mama, but you just keep doing what you can. She knows you love her and care. She has to put some work in, too.