[linda white]

i use to have 4 chickens but after awhile they started to peck each other and 3 chickens died,now i have 1 chicken she is healthy but i want more how would i get more and how would the other chicken react.

[bantam novice]

Hello Linda,
Welcome to the wacky world of henaholics!    I am sure you will get loads of experienced advice here. 

As I understand it you are very right to be getting other chickens as a companion for your lonely only.  Chickens need company and don't do very well on their own.

How old is your chicken? It may be worth  trying to find hens the same age .  Otherwise I would get point of lay (pol) pullets.

When you introduce hens to each other it is important to make sure that you are not introducing any nasty diseases as well so it is important to quarentine your new ones.  If you can, have them in a separate area in sight of your current chicken so they can get used to each other.  Quarentine needs to be for two weeks and then you can introduce the new hens into the coop at night.

There will be some pecking order squabbling and it can get pretty nasty.   It usually doesn't last for too long before the order is sorted.  Have some purple spray ready to spray on areas of a hen that look red.  It really is called purple spray though it is really gentian violet and is available from most horse feed suppliers.  Chickens will attack and peck at any areas that are red and they won't stop.  the spray disguises the colour and acts as an antiseptic to help the wound heal.

Look around for local suppliers that you can visit and check out.   It is better if you can see what conditions the chickens have been living in and how healthy the flock looks.

I'm sure others will be along to add to the advice.  In the meatime good luck!