Chicken attack(injury) and egg laying

[erinsumpter]

My beautiful little silver duckwing bantam hen (AKA: Chicken Little) was attacked about a month ago by a opossum. The opossum got into the coop (a converted, giant and fully enclosed dog kennel). Fortunately, we heard the hens "screaming" in the middle of the night and were able to prevent any major injuries and take care of the opossum . But, Chicken Little did have a lot of feathers ripped out - half of her tail feathers and a small patch underneath her wing and back feathers. I haven't expected any eggs from her as I know she was traumatized and had to grow feathers back. Her feathers are almost all grown back in now and just wondering if/when she might start laying again. If she never laid another egg that would be fine because I love her anyway. My girls are my pets that just happen to lay eggs Any ideas/opinions on her egg laying? Thanks!

 

[nuthatched]

As long as there was no harm to her rear, she'll probably lay in the spring. (Unless it's summer where you live.)

 

[Henry&Friends]

Was she previously laying? Glad to hear you stopped anything serious from going on

 

[HeyHeyWW]

I agree with nuthatched, you should wait until spring and see if she starts laying.

 

[erinsumpter]

Was she previously laying? Glad to hear you stopped anything serious from going on

Yes, she was previously laying. My other girls (6 full sized hens) are still steadily laying even though we're in Fall (almost Winter) season. But, it's North Florida so our "winters" are very mild.

 

[erinsumpter]

As long as there was no harm to her rear, she'll probably lay in the spring. (Unless it's summer where you live.)

No harm to her rear (no bites, cuts or scratches), just the feathers pulled out. Thanks for the info.

 

[erinsumpter]

I agree with nuthatched, you should wait until spring and see if she starts laying.

Will do. Thank you!

 

[Henry&Friends]

Best you can do right now is wait and see, although I don’t see why she wouldn’t resume laying without serious complications... is it possible she’s found somewhere else to lay away from the rest? My birds lay eggs in the forest for their best friends, the raccoons.