Can chickens get depressed? Update: he's sick instead

[Critter Crazed]

I have a bantam cochin rooster in with one silkie hen and the silkie hen recently went broody so he's stuck all alone in his run.
He's acting almost depressed-like.. kind of lethargic and I want to know if he's either sick or if he is actually depressed from being lonely. Poor little guy.

He's sitting on my lap sleeping as I type this. He also sounds different. He has sad little "bawwwkkkk....." 's... breaks my heart!!! So am I just being stupid or can chickens get depressed?

He has no other sick symptoms.. although the hen was wheezing the other day whenever she breathed but I've been treating them with antibiotics and she seems fine now.

Editted to add: He used to have a total of 5 silkie hens but I got rid of 4 of them a few weeks ago so he's used to having more buddies around.

 

[sourland]

Hide the hatchet.

 

[Lespaul0738]

my three that died was acting depressed i thought, they would stay still and eventually fall asleep, and they wouldent eat or drink, or move around much, and then they just died on me one day, and my other chickens where fine

 

[mmaddie's mom]

depressed?

... but I have had mine lose the will to live... I'd say that is extremely depressed.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yes, they can get depressed. I had a chicken that I had to remove from integration because he was pecked so badly. So he was by himself in a small coop, but within sight of the others. He got horribly depressed. Sometimes he wouldn't even come out of the coop.

 

[beachchickie]

I have an EE that is usually very talkative. Today she was making the most pitiful whinning sound. I have not petted her or picked her up until today for a week or more. Depressed? I don't know.

 

[Critter Crazed]

Oh no!!! That makes me worry, I do not want my baby to die.

This is why I'm worried.. is this a sign of a deadly illness? If so what should I do? I have other chickens but they are still too young to be integrated so I was waiting til they got bigger. I think I'm gonna put them in with my rooster tomorrow. They are three months old.. I think it would be for the best.

 

[Critter Crazed]

By the way.. This is no normal rooster.

Ignore my icky tshirt. It's my chicken cuddling shirt.

Giving one of the old girls a kiss.

After I had to soak his feet in epsom salts cuz his feather shafts were infected

He's a real sweetie.. gets attached to people and chickens a lot, I guess.

 

[kyeschicks]

Quote:
It's a boy!...

well I hope he doesn't die

 

[noodleroo]

I just love those pics! No wonder you are worried; he does seem so sweet and special. Hopefully he's just having a sad day; I bet he'll be fine tomorrow.