Depressed chickens?

[Dom95]

Sort of a weird question but is it bad for me to leave my chickens often?
We have a 20+ Mixed flock but more so lately I’ve had to commute for classes and different cities. I’m usually gone for a week or two then back a week. Typically I wake them, put them to bed, feed and etc.

I only ask because a few 3/4 of my chickens who are part time house chickens get very sad and search for me for the first few days. I also live with family who take care of them but when I leave the few hens search my room, the yard and everywhere else. At times they will stay by the door as if waiting. They will not free range either or be as social. They’ve also boycotted laying until a day or so after I’ve returned.

This back and forth commuting started more so in The fall and Wondering if I should be worried or if I’m over thinking it? I thought it would be a usual pattern the flock would get used to but the few seem to not adjust.

Sorry & Thanks guys!

 

[gtaus]

I don't have my chickens as pets. The only way Dear Wife will let them in the house is plucked and ready for the pot. Sounds like your chickens are being well cared for while you are gone. I doubt they are suffering.

FWIW, I only spend maybe 5 minutes per day with my backyard flock. Just long enough to check their feed and water, and gather eggs. They seem to do just fine without any other attention from me. They only get excited to see me if I am carrying the kitchen scraps bucket - because they know there might be something good to eat.

 

[Zoohtasim]

Sort of a weird question but is it bad for me to leave my chickens often?
We have a 20+ Mixed flock but more so lately I’ve had to commute for classes and different cities. I’m usually gone for a week or two then back a week. Typically I wake them, put them to bed, feed and etc.

I only ask because a few 3/4 of my chickens who are part time house chickens get very sad and search for me for the first few days. I also live with family who take care of them but when I leave the few hens search my room, the yard and everywhere else. At times they will stay by the door as if waiting. They will not free range either or be as social. They’ve also boycotted laying until a day or so after I’ve returned.

This back and forth commuting started more so in The fall and Wondering if I should be worried or if I’m over thinking it? I thought it would be a usual pattern the flock would get used to but the few seem to not adjust.

Sorry & Thanks guys!

Are they not even eating properly when you're gone?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Maybe your house chickens would be happier being integrated with the flock. Then they would not be so aware of your presence or absence and their routine would not be so disrupted by your coming and going.

 

[K0k0shka]

Chickens form bonds and get attached, yes, including to people. I've had a chicken get attached to me and cry and look for me when I was gone. It was quite distressing to see. He was a semi-house chicken too, being nurtured back to health after a sickness and got more attached to me than to the flock, had trouble reintegrating. Chickens need a flock, and when they lack one, they will bond to whatever creature they spend time with, whom they will view as their replacement flock.

Why do you have house chickens in the first place? If there is no compelling reason for them to be in the house, I'd recommend reintegrating them with the flock and keeping them outside. That way it would be less obvious to them when you're gone, if they just get visits from you, as opposed to being in the house that you usually occupy and then suddenly you are not there. Chickens don't like change. Give them a stable life outside with the flock, and things should get better.