replacing dead chicken?

[sam_uk]

Hi all

I lost one of my two chiclens to a fox last night. (before anyone asks I had not been experimenting with the fox-proof run - I wish I had.)

So this leaves one chicken, this does not seem very good but I know that there can be problems introducing hens that have not grown up together.

Should I try to introduce another by keeping them next to each other in a separated pen for a while?

[Gert]

Hi Sam

Sorry to hear about the hen. You can try putting them alongside each other, although personally I would just sneak the new hen into the house after dark. there will be a bit of a squabble in the morning when you let them out , but it shouldn't take them long to work out who is going to be the boss.

Let us know how you get on.

[sam_uk]

Thanks for the reply Gert, I will try sneaking one in after dark..

On a related point is it OK to eat the chicken?

It mainly has puncture wounds on the neck which I have now removed. However I have just found some bite marks on the back too.

I imagine urban foxes have pretty grim mouths. Will heat kill any bacteria or should I give it a miss?

cheers

Sam

[sam_uk]

Well I cut out the bits where the teeth had punctured.

Roasted up the chicken was tough but flavourful, not all that much meat on it but worth doing..