Chickens not eating after predator attack

[greenkjb]

Hoping someone on here has some feedback. We had 8 healthy hens that would be a year old in May. 10 days ago we had our first attack (the coop was accidentally left open) and something(s) got in and killed 3 hens in less than 10 seconds. I'm assuming it was a gang of raccoons, but we couldn't see anything.It was sark and after midnight. The remaining 5 girls were un harmed, but clearly shocked and dazed. Ever since then they have stopped eating. Before the attack they ate their feed regularly (layer pellets) free ranged in our yard and I feed them fresh greens regularly. I also have maintained a mealworm from for them and they get a handful every other day or so. I give them black oil sunflower seeds and scratch sparingly because I know those can cause problems. They will still eat the worms, but seem to be refusing everything else. They have also stopped roosting in the inside portion of their coop and now sleep perched up high in the outside portion. Their personalities have also changed in that they are still friendly, but are skittish whereas they used to happily be picked up. Poop that I can see looks normal. They also had stopped laying just prior to the attack, but I had attributed that to cold winter days. Has anyone experienced this? If you've read this long, thank you. Appreciate any feedback.

 

[Animals45]

Maybe they are still scared after what was happening to them or maybe they are sick.

 

[SarahGfa]

Chickens eat a lot less if they are not laying. Are they still free ranging? They may be getting enough to eat out in the yard.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry for your losses!
Your birds have been traumatized and are right to be afraid and uncertain, and unwilling to be in the coop where all this happened. They will get better, and do need to eat their pellets, so consider only offering that feed for now. Is it that they don't want to eat where the feeder is placed? Try moving it, even slightly. Are your predators returning and scaring them at night? I'd be freaked out too, in their situation.
Consider trapping and shooting any repeat night visitors...
Mary

 

[Leahs Coop]

So sorry for your losses!
Your birds have been traumatized and are right to be afraid and uncertain, and unwilling to be in the coop where all this happened. They will get better, and do need to eat their pellets, so consider only offering that feed for now. Is it that they don't want to eat where the feeder is placed? Try moving it, even slightly. Are your predators returning and scaring them at night? I'd be freaked out too, in their situation.
Consider trapping and shooting any repeat night visitors...
Mary