coyote attack has forced hens to rafters

[Minky]

We free range our flock (27 acres mixed forest and cleared pasture around us) and never had an issue. But 10 days ago a coyote came and took 4 around dinner time- we stopped her in the act- she dropped it and ran... (found 3 more bodies in the forest, untouched). since then my birds (about 25 pullets, 5 hens and 2 cockerels) have been roosting in the rafters. (my heaviest hens have been using roost). This has created a bit of chaos for me, with poop in places i dont want.. etc..
I will staple a thick canvas material i have plenty of to the rafters to stop this behaviour next week... but my husband is building a run with lots of hammering going on so I will wait until it is complete before doing so.

There has also been a severe drop in egg laying from my 5 hens. like no eggs for days ! then one or two, then no eggs again for days.

once the run is finished and i canvas the ceiling so they cannot access the rafters, will they all roost together? I find that even though I have at least 15 inches per bird of roost-- that one hen will guard the 8 foot roost and not let anyone else on it. then the next big hen will do the same with the other roost. All the 4 month old pullets dont know what to do.
Shall i help, or stay out of it?

Is all this normal?
Thanks




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[cmom]

They should adjust given some time. Probably the coyote scared the ---- out of them so they are going to be weary for awhile. That could also the reason for the drop in the egg production or they may be starting to molt. Some of my birds have started to molt and my egg production has dropped off some too.
I see coyotes pretty much every night on one of my game cameras.

 

[Minky]

yes they have started to molt and look a bit rough!! even before the attack.
wow. coyotes every night!! damn.

 

[aart]

Might want to use mesh instead of canvas for the new 'ceiling' so as not to block any ventilation......tho not sure of the configuration of your coop.

I'd add another roost for the pullets.

 

[sawilliams]

It might take moving the chickens ants locking them in the run/coop for a wok or so to retrain them. But they will re-adjust.

As for your roosting situation this is also normal. Young pullets especially ones not laying are tolerated but are often hot considered flock members. As th they start laying and earn thier rank in the packing order the positions on the roosts will change too.

Eggs on the other hand still take a while. As chickens wont lay off they are stressed or don't feel safe. This can take weeks. Unfortunately I'm dealing with double stress as we had 2 attacks a few weeks ago, have had unusually high triple digit temps and are now dealing with massive smoke issues from the Carr fire in northern California. With 9 layers and another 9 close to/should be laying pullets I'm only just starting to get 3-6 eggs a day again when before the attacks I was getting 6-7 from just the 9 oldest girls (10 at the time with 2 of them broody).

 

[Minky]

ok good to know. i just dont want my chickens hurting themselves flying up 12 feet into rafters, sometimes when they come down, the land on their faces!!