Hens are flock animals and are never happier than when they have their coop mates around them. But what to do if you find yourself with a lonely chicken?.
Every day, hens sunbathe together, dig for worms together, and squeeze into the nest box with a friend, even though there is an empty nest box next door.
However, if you’ve found yourself with a lonely chicken for whatever reason, there are steps you can take to ensure she stays happy and healthy.
There are many reasons why a hen may be left on her own. Maybe some of her flock mates have died and there hasn’t been a chance to replace them, or maybe things have changed and the hen keeper doesn’t want to take on any more hens.
No matter the reason, it’s important to remember that hens shouldn’t live alone in general. If you find yourself with a lonely chicken, read on to find out what you can do.
It should be said that you know your hen better than anyone – in some cases, chickens are perfectly happy with just their own company so, if your hen is thriving and you are looking to wind down your flock naturally, a solution may not actually be necessary.
In that case, you can take on the role of companion to the remaining hen. Ideally, she would not be left in a coop and run away from human company. Even if she spends part of the day with people, she will be happy and may even come to enjoy being the centre of attention. Daily handling and cuddles are key. If this is not possible invest in a small radio so that she has the sound of human voices and won’t become lonely.
When there is only one chicken left in the flock, it can be hard and emotional. Because chickens are very social, losing her flock mates and being left alone can be very upsetting for a hen that is on her own. You can, however, take steps to keep your lone hen healthy and happy while you think about what to do. This article tells you everything you need to know about having one chicken, from how to meet her social needs to whether you should get more.
Why Is Having Just 1 Chicken a Problem?
Chickens have a natural drive to live in flocks. In the wild, they sleep, hunt, bathe in dust, and stay safe from predators all together. Domestic chickens still have these strong social instincts. If chickens don’t have anyone to play with, they can feel lonely, bored, stressed, and scared.
Some specific problems seen in lone chickens include:
- Increased stress hormone levels
- Feather pecking and other redirected behaviors
- Declines in egg production
- Increased risk of illness and disease
- Greater likelihood of being killed by predators
Research shows that chickens form social hierarchies and strong bonds with flockmates. A lone chicken lacks this social structure and stimulation. So meeting the needs of a solo hen takes some extra care and consideration.
Caring For a Lone Hen
If you find yourself with only one chicken focus on meeting her fundamental needs while keeping her comfortable. Here are some tips
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Provide extra attention – Spend more time with her so she gets companionship from you. Pet, hold, and hand feed her favorite treats. Talk to her too!
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Supplement with a mirror – A mirror can trick a hen into thinking she has a friend. Some lone hens take great comfort from a mirror.
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Use a friend, like a stuffed animal. A doll, a wooden chicken, or even a golf ball can help you feel better.
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Allow supervised free-ranging – This provides critical mental stimulation. Watch her closely or leash train her for safety.
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Provide a dust bath – Dust bathing is natural “chicken therapy.” Let her dust bathe daily.
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Add enrichment – Use treats, scattering feeds, swings, roosts and safe toys to engage her.
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Check for illness – Monitor for any signs of lethargy, low appetite, unusual droppings etc. Catch issues early.
With attentive care, many lone chickens adjust well. But it’s still best to find her new flockmates as soon as possible.
Should You Get More Chickens?
The short answer is yes – you should get more chickens for your lone hen. Re-establishing normal social order is the healthiest, happiest option for a chicken. Expanding your flock requires some planning and preparation, but it is well worth it.
Here are some things to consider when deciding to get more chickens:
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Biosecurity – Follow quarantine procedures and test any new birds for infectious diseases before introducing them.
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Ideal flock size – Most experts recommend a minimum flock of 3-5 chickens. Bigger is better.
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Existing space – Make sure your coop and run can comfortably fit more chickens. Expand or modify if needed.
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Integrating new birds – Gradual introductions over 2-4 weeks are vital for avoiding fights.
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Chicken math – Be prepared for slippery slopes! Chicken keeping is addictive.
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Costs – Factor in expenses of feed, housing, vet care. Budget for extras too.
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Time commitment – More chickens equals more daily chores. Are you ready?
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Laws – Check local ordinances on number of backyard chickens allowed.
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Predator protection – More birds draw more predators. Secure housing and fencing.
With the right matchmaking, space, and precautions, expanding your flock will likely go smoothly.
Finding New Chickens
You have several good options for sourcing new flock members:
Acquire adult hens – Grown hens skip the fragile baby stage and integrate more easily with adults. Check local classifieds, farms, animal shelters, and poultry swaps.
Purchase chicks – Mail order hatcheries ship directly or you can buy chicks locally. Aim for a mix of breeds.
Adopt rescued hens – Many shelters and sanctuaries adopt out hens rescued from battery cages. Give a hen a second chance!
Let your hen raise chicks – If your lone hen is broody, you can let her hatch fertilized eggs and raise chicks.
Rehome roosters – If a friend has extra roosters, see if you can give them a new home. Hens accept roosters well.
Ask neighbors – Talk to neighbors and community members. You may find chickens who need rehoming.
Take your time selecting new flock members with your lone hen’s temperament in mind. Once you’ve found the right chickens, get ready for introductions.
Introducing New Chickens
Adding chickens to a lone hen takes patience and planning. Some key tips:
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Quarantine new birds for 4 weeks before introductions to prevent disease spread.
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House new chickens in a separate coop within sight of the existing hen at first. This allows them to grow accustomed to each other without direct contact.
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After 2-3 weeks, allow supervised time together in a neutral space like a fenced yard. Watch them closely for any aggressive behavior.
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Gradually increase their interactions over another 1-2 weeks. Expect some feather pulling and squabbles as they work out a new pecking order.
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Provide multiple food, water and dust bathing areas. This reduces competition and conflicts.
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Add enrichments like roosts and cover so subordinate chickens have escape options.
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Remove any bullied chicken if others are excessively aggressive and target them. Re-introduce after a break.
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Be patient through the integration process. The flock will settle into a new normal over time.
Following these tips will give your lone chicken and newcomers the best chance of successfully blending into a larger, happier flock.
What If You Can’t Get More Chickens?
If getting more chickens is truly not possible for you due to housing issues, laws, finances or other constraints, then committing to diligently enriching your solo hen’s life is the next best option.
Provide her with:
- A large, secure run for exercise
- Plenty of toys, perches, and hideaways
- Long periods of supervised free-ranging
- Time in a portable tractor or chicken playground
- Daily human interaction and attention
Monitor her health and behavior closely. As long as she seems content and well-adjusted, she may continue to do well as a lone hen. But persist in improving her circumstances. And stay open to rehoming or acquiring hens whenever the opportunity arises.
If she declines or struggles despite your best efforts, rehoming her to live with other chickens may become the kindest choice.
Life With A Lone Hen Can Work
Losing flockmates until only one chicken remains is an unfortunate situation for any bird owner. But take heart, all is not lost! Focus on meeting that solo hen’s needs for companionship and stimulation. With attentive care from you and new chicken friends, your lone hen can once again be a happy member of a flourishing flock.
Adopt friends for your lonely chicken
Of course, our preferred option is for you to rehome some more hens from us! That’s more lives saved and more hens living out a free-range retirement in a lovely back garden environment.
It used to be that people who wanted to adopt should get at least three hens. But that changed because many people with one lonely hen might want to adopt just two.
So, if you like to keep your flock small and would like to add two more birds to your coop to keep your single hen company, please let us know and we’ll make this happen.
How about a house hen?
As we already said, some people may think that their hen is fine without any other birds around. However, we have also heard of people who rehomed hens keeping them. It’s not for everyone, but evidence has shown us that this can work in some cases.
Of course, this takes a little doing; hens aren’t house trained so you will need to be prepared for the droppings and ensure other pets will be okay with a bird ruling the roost inside the house.
Hens do get on well with other small furries such as rabbits and guinea pigs, so if you have any of these in your family it may be worth integrating them, if only for a short period, to keep your hen company.
Tip If Your Chicken Is Being Picked On!!!
FAQ
What to do when only one chicken is left?
But if she starts looking sad, ill, lonely, bored, etc, the kindest thing to do is rehome her. There are chickens that are great living alone—when we got our Bluebelle, she had already been living alone for a month and seemed fine—but there are others that hate it. Give it a go, but keep a close eye.
Will one chicken survive alone?
They do recognise and bond with their owners, but they will still get lonely without other chickens, which can cause stress and shorten their lifespan as well ….
How to keep a single chicken happy?
Keeping a single chicken happy requires extra effort as chickens are social animals and thrive in flocks. To compensate for the lack of other chickens, provide the hen with plenty of attention, enrichment, and a comfortable environment. Consider spending more time interacting with the chicken, providing toys, and creating opportunities for dust bathing and foraging.
Can I keep a single chicken as a pet?
Chickens are flock animals. Their social life revolves around their flock. While it is possible to keep a single chicken, it is not the ideal. Chickens are best kept as a flock or at least several birds.