Chicken with PTSD? Don't know how to help her

[micstrachan]

How long has she not been eating? Is she drinking? She needs sustenance. Wondering if you’d be willing to learn to tube feed before she gets too weak. Thoughts @casportpony?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How many roosters do you have? What age?
How many hens?

I would check this girl's crop at night when she goes to bed to see that it has food in it - then first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks, it should be empty/flat.

You mentioned "young rooster" seems to be targeting her. Cockerels sometimes need to be separated because of raging hormones. If she is lower(est) in pecking order she will be the most submissive, so will be usually mated the most. I see quite a few feathers missing from her back.

 

[kwhites634]

I wish I could help. Such a sad story but none of my chickens survived predation even with my trauma nursing experience. Stupid neighbor and rescue dogs killed them outright. I chose not to involve law enforcment and have their dog killed as it is now a coyote under Texas law. I really hope Ducky Lucky's soul heals for you.

This I gotta hear! The dog wasn't a coyote before, but it is now? Exactly how does that work, even in Texas?

 

[Tesumph]

This I gotta hear! The dog wasn't a coyote before, but it is now? Exactly how does that work, even in Texas?

Apparently laws can change species.
The only thing I can think of is if there is coydog regulations like there is for wolfdogs. Eg, depending on the state, 50% or greater wolf lineage in a dog may not be legal.

 

[AllenK RGV]

This I gotta hear! The dog wasn't a coyote before, but it is now? Exactly how does that work, even in Texas?

No, the dog has the same legal protection of a coyote once it predates your chicken. To me, I say it became a coyote because I could call law enforcement and have it removed, or I can always shoot it whenever I want, now this is sad but true I don't want to take away their dog.

 

[AllenK RGV]

If you desire more information though.... please read Vernon's Texas Health and Safety Code chapter 620-630 cover livestock.

 

[PeepersMama]

How long has she not been eating? Is she drinking? She needs sustenance. Wondering if you’d be willing to learn to tube feed before she gets too weak. Thoughts @casportpony?

I haven't seen her eating or been able to get her to eat for a few days now, but last night my sister discovered that she's taken a liking to watermelon. It's really cool out today, so we're letting her free-range all day and then I'll try to feed her some chick starter tonight.

How many roosters do you have? What age?
How many hens?

I would check this girl's crop at night when she goes to bed to see that it has food in it - then first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks, it should be empty/flat.

You mentioned "young rooster" seems to be targeting her. Cockerels sometimes need to be separated because of raging hormones. If she is lower(est) in pecking order she will be the most submissive, so will be usually mated the most. I see quite a few feathers missing from her back.

I have two roosters. The oldest one turned one this year, and his son is just getting old enough to breed. There are about 30 hens in his flock, the rest are either too young or are my breeding pen.

I've done that, only a couple times has it been even slightly squishy. She has been eating a bunch of watermelon recently though, so I'm going to try and feed her some actual feed tonight.

 

[PeepersMama]

Sis says that Ducky was out front hanging with this year's chicks last time she saw her. Figured I'd just say that.

And btw, this little side conversation is epic and I want to move to Texas now.

 

[PeepersMama]

Over the last couple days shes perked up a lot. She'll eat scratch mixed with starter feed and she's been more talkative, too. I put her in a small wire kennel outside today to see how she does with all the other chickens again.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I'm sorry to hear about your frightened hen, that is really tough for you and her. We had two roosters and the young one turned out to be very mean and caused serious injury to one of our hens, Emily. That rooster went to the dinner table and Emily was separated to heal, but as soon as we let her out again she seemed like she wanted to get back in to her separate run and shed and she had become very nervous. Within less than a day her wound had opened up again, this time thanks to the older rooster (he is not nasty but I guess her healed skin wasn't very tough).

She was separated again and is now a sort of granny to our six rescue hens (ex-caged hens) who arrived a month ago. She seems totally happy now - no rooster to upset her and she is the boss of the others but gets along with them really nicely. She likes her company and no longer seems frightened like she did. Maybe you could keep your girl separate on a long term basis but get her a buddy or two for easy company?