Depressed chicken 😩

[feather13]

It’s so heartbreaking! She was making little chirping noises that they would do when they were like talking to one another. She seems a lot better today i cuddled with her. My fiancé had this built that night that happened were working on door right now. It’s covered with deer and bird netting. I haven’t seen that hawk since thank god!

Your fiancé is super talented! That netting should keep a hawk out, but depending where you live, you'll probably want to cover the whole thing in hardware cloth (stiff wire fencing). Our chickens got killed by a raccoon because I locked them up too late, but hardware cloth imho really helps to keep all kinds of predators out. We use zip ties to connect sections of it. It's expensive, but worth it.

 

[aart]

Now my question is is could this actually be the case? Or is it just me because I’m devastated and feeling terrible about the situation. Any advice or comments are greatly appreciated!

Probably a bit of both.
Loss of flock member changes the pecking order.
They will adjust....maybe faster than you will.

 

[B_Chickle01]

I’m sorry for your loss.
However, please don’t keep 2/4 roosters.

I have two. I’ve raised them since they were born so didn’t know until they were older obviously but am having a hard time parting with one. They aren’t fighting or anything like that i spend time with them a lot and watch them is that why you are suggesting that?

 

[B_Chickle01]

Your fiancé is super talented! That netting should keep a hawk out, but depending where you live, you'll probably want to cover the whole thing in hardware cloth (stiff wire fencing). Our chickens got killed by a raccoon because I locked them up too late, but hardware cloth imho really helps to keep all kinds of predators out. We use zip ties to connect sections of it. It's expensive, but worth it.

Thank you! We were going this week for the hardware cloth we had to wait for pay day cause of the cost and how big the run is. Were going to put that over it.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I have two. I’ve raised them since they were born so didn’t know until they were older obviously but am having a hard time parting with one. They aren’t fighting or anything like that i spend time with them a lot and watch them is that why you are suggesting that?

I mean don’t have 2 boys and two girls...
It‘s hard to part with them, I know.
But having half the flock be roosters can be dangerous for the hens.

 

[cmom]

So sorry about your loss. It will disrupt the pecking order but they will figure it out. Good luck...

 

[B_Chickle01]

I mean don’t have 2 boys and two girls...
It‘s hard to part with them, I know.
But having half the flock be roosters can be dangerous for the hens.

Dangerous like attacking them? Or from mounting them all the time? I read that could happen their backs could get cut up and feathers missing. I’ve been watching for that. We have 4 girls and two roosters.