Change in Social Behavior Towards People

[Littlesquare]

Hello! Recently, we had a predator kill all of our flock but two Ameraucanas. One of them, Jo, got her neck and eye injured during the raid, and is now recuperating and healing. While she is still in the coop/enclosure with our other hen, Nancy, there are still only two hens in the flock right now as the 10 new chicks we got aren't old enough or big enough to be outside with the bigger hens. About a day or two after the attack, I went out to check on Jo and was holding her in my arms when Nancy flew up onto my shoulder, which she'd never done before. I thought it was a one-time thing because she was attached to Jo, but she's been doing it every time I go into their enclosure since - she'll fly up onto my shoulder or head and just kinda talk to me. I think it might a social behavior to replace the ones she lost with the rest of the flock, but I'm just making sure this isn't a bad sign that she's in distress. And if it is, my best friend is raising chickens and when she heard of what had happened, she offered to let my chicken go socialize with her flock for a few hours every so often. Is this ok for both my hen and her flock?

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
I think that keeping your birds, and hers separated, is much safer for all of them. Of course your birds are upset! Meeting other birds temporarily won't improve the situation, only add more stress.
How old are your new chicks? Can they be out there, in a separate area, sooner rather than later?
Mary

 

[Littlesquare]

Welcome!
I think that keeping your birds, and hers separated, is much safer for all of them. Of course your birds are upset! Meeting other birds temporarily won't improve the situation, only add more stress.
How old are your new chicks? Can they be out there, in a separate area, sooner rather than later?
Mary

Okay, I think that probably wouldn't be the best situation to put her in. Our chicks are only about a week or less old, so we were planning on keeping them in their bin/brooder until they're mostly feathered.

 

[pozees2]

Maybe give them some things to keep them feeling safe and occupied - some hiding spots other than the coop that you know are safe, for example. I've seen so many things enjoyed by chickens that are actually pretty simple - old wooden ladders, wooden spools, small tables on 12" legs they can hide under, I have one run with the roof off an old prefab coop, so small, that leans up against a plastic storage container and the girls love to huddle under there, there's some straw they made themselves a little nest with. I've had some love flock blocks and others ignore them but maybe yours would like one?

 

[aart]

Okay, I think that probably wouldn't be the best situation to put her in. Our chicks are only about a week or less old, so we were planning on keeping them in their bin/brooder until they're mostly feathered.

Do you have space in the coop or run to brood them out there?
It's a great way to begin early integration.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/