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

[AllenK RGV]

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.

 

[mustangrooster]

Awe, that is sad. Ducky Lucky looks very sweet.

I'm going through a similar situation, one of my roosters has decided that a particular hen, named Rose, is his favourite hen...in fact, all of the roosters have decided that.

She used to be the calmest, laid back, and friendliest hen I had, but she's now gone to a total mess. She freaks out over everything and will often hide during the day to escape the roosters. In fact, she'll hide all day to escape all the chickens. I don’t try to look for her during the day because she hides very well, and with the whole property to free-range on...she could be anywhere. She comes out in the evening when everyone else is roosting, but like your hen, she'll get nervous and freak out if a rooster even looks at her.
The roosters aren't mean or anything, either....she is very insecure.

I'm planning on catching her tonight and putting her in a small bird aviary to let her 'get back on her feet', which I hope she does. I'll get one of my silkies or bantams to go in with her, to keep her company. Sorry I can’t offer you much help, but I'm interested in what other people might suggest.

 

[April’s Zoo]

Are you sure her vision is okay.... if she’s having difficulty seeing, she might behave as you described— especially if she’s only impaired on one side. Idk if chickens can get cataracts, but even before they are obvious, cataracts can make vision hazy and strange, which would make her skittish.

 

[ashlierami]

Awe, that is sad. Ducky Lucky looks very sweet.

I'm going through a similar situation, one of my roosters has decided that a particular hen, named Rose, is his favourite hen...in fact, all of the roosters have decided that.

She used to be the calmest, laid back, and friendliest hen I had, but she's now gone to a total mess. She freaks out over everything and will often hide during the day to escape the roosters. In fact, she'll hide all day to escape all the chickens. I don’t try to look for her during the day because she hides very well, and with the whole property to free-range on...she could be anywhere. She comes out in the evening when everyone else is roosting, but like your hen, she'll get nervous and freak out if a rooster even looks at her.
The roosters aren't mean or anything, either....she is very insecure.

I'm planning on catching her tonight and putting her in a small bird aviary to let her 'get back on her feet', which I hope she does. I'll get one of my silkies or bantams to go in with her, to keep her company. Sorry I can’t offer you much help, but I'm interested in what other people might suggest.

This is exactly how my silkie is acting. She isn't her roosters favorite but since she hides and he doesn't see her often he does chase her to mate her when she does appear. Also to "reclaim" her I guess since there's other roosters that want a shot at her to.she enjoys being in the small coop and run and so I let her be since her daughter is in there brooding. I figured it would be good for her since that is her best friend and maybe once the chicks hatch she can still hang with her and have more company.

 

[ashlierami]

Huh, this is interesting... I might let her hang out with the little chicks for now, until the two boys get bigger. I've been tossing the idea of finding an older bantam hen to keep her company, too. As far as I know she doesn't have any one friend that she likes to hang out with, but then again I have fifty chickens so...
Thank you for the reply! I'm glad to see there's someone else having to deal with this.


Nope, she's not sick. I am keeping a close eye on her though.



I thought about kennelingk her in the coop, too, but then if Rooster came in she'd have no way to escape from him. I'm probably going to keep her kennelled near the chicks, so she won't get too lonely but she'll also be away from the rest of the flock.

Yes indeed! It's calming to know there's more than just me that's dealing with this. I thought I was a bad chicken mom and she's unhappy here but now I see that isn't the case. I also wanted to keep her in the coop bc she is missing alot of feathers due to molt but also from her rooster. Does your girl lay? Mine hasn't in awhile and I was thinking maybe she's not interested in a roo right now since she's not laying or anything maybe she just wants to be to herself without the roo bothering her. She's also the bottom of the pecking order since she is a silkie so that could contribute to her wanting to be away.

 

[mustangrooster]

I also wanted to keep her in the coop bc she is missing alot of feathers due to molt but also from her rooster.

Rose is missing a lot of feathers too, mainly because of the roosters, but she is also molting. She used to be quite high in the pecking order but now she is at rock bottom, even the silkies and bantams are higher up than her...but it’s probably because she is so insecure now. I hate seeing her like this.....it’s horrible.

 

[PeepersMama]

Are you sure her vision is okay.... if she’s having difficulty seeing, she might behave as you described— especially if she’s only impaired on one side. Idk if chickens can get cataracts, but before they are obvious, cataracts can make vision hazy and strange, which would make her skittish.

Ooh... I haven't seen any notable fuzziness in her eyes, but that's a good idea. Thanks!

 

[PeepersMama]

Yes indeed! It's calming to know there's more than just me that's dealing with this. I thought I was a bad chicken mom and she's unhappy here but now I see that isn't the case. I also wanted to keep her in the coop bc she is missing alot of feathers due to molt but also from her rooster. Does your girl lay? Mine hasn't in awhile and I was thinking maybe she's not interested in a roo right now since she's not laying or anything maybe she just wants to be to herself without the roo bothering her. She's also the bottom of the pecking order since she is a silkie so that could contribute to her wanting to be away.

Ducky actually just laid an egg this morning. It's the first one I've seen from her in a week or so, and it was a little off-color, but it was an egg.

Oh your girl is a banty! :0 I wouldn't be at all surprised if that played a role in her insecurity. Poor baby.

 

[micstrachan]

How’s Ducky today?

 

[PeepersMama]

How’s Ducky today?

She got out yesterday, and from what I saw she was actually hanging out with everyone else for a couple hours. I did catch her out front under the bushes all by herself - she's got some dang good hiding spots picked out.

My biggest worry right now is getting her to eat... She completely ignores corn, not to mention feed....