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Should I get another chicken?

My man came home last night with a chicken! It had been on its own for a year after the other chicken got stressed to death by a visiting dog. Then the daughter (of the people who gave us the chicken) brought a little pretty chicken home but that was being pecked on badly so the first one had to go. I'm not up for scouring the internet on how to keep chickens just yet beyond what i have done so it got shade, a coop with a stick to sit on and fresh water. We got given some food that should last till the weekend too. And it got a run of roughly 6mx3.5m untouched by chickens yet so lots of creepy crawlies and seeds to be found too. Saying that it was in a suburban garden before where it had the run of the garden. Now its area is walled on 3 sides and the fourth has a netting over it till we build something proper over the next few weeks. I can see it though the kitchen window but can't open that as it would be the ideal pouncing spot for our cat. In it's old place it lived side by side with a cat, mine sits and watches it from a distance for now. But does it need company? As it has been on its own for over a year even though chickens are social animals sort of I suppose. Anyone has some words of wisdom on how to keep my chicken a happy one?

Public Comments

1. Hell yes you should
2. Well, if you really want another chicken you can get one... but you have to be careful. If the other chicken was stressed to death by a visiting dog, chances are it can happen again. And also, the kitchen window.. does it have a lock? if not then there is the chance that a friend, neighbour or visitor can open that window, but if it does have a lock, keep it locked at all times. Hope this helps :)
3. No get rid of it. You've just said you can't be bothered to find out how to look after chickens, so don't, they need someone who can be bothered. That little hen though, if it's been on it's own it'll have trouble adapting. They should always have a friend, but yours will probably not know what to do with another hen. You can try giving her a really bullied one, keep them in separate coops but so they can see each other and after a week or so let them hang out. They'll fight, but it'll soon sort itself out. (and my cat and hens ignore each other, the cat will be curious at first, but she'll soon get bored)
4. Chickens are used to living in large groups so you should get him company.
5. Chicken are social so yes getting another is a good idea . But you need to be careful introducing them as they have a very strong pecking order. If possible you could keep them seperate but next to each other so they get used to each other. When you do put them together there will be alitlle fighting and pecking that is natural just monitor them closely. It is often a good idea to introduce them just before they are due to roost up for the night.