Depressed Silkie

[Kirstals]

I think i have a depressed silkie, she sits alday and has stopped laying. I've been watching her over the last few days and decided to bring her into the house. Since being in the house over the last couple of hours she has been eating and drinking and generally looking happier. Now she lost her little mate a few weeks back and they was always together could this be a case she is missing her friend. Or could it be something else. I thought maybe brooding but she wasnt sitting on any eggs. The weather is alot cooler now as we are heading into winter (Perth Australia) could this also be because of weather.

 

[chelseachook]

Poor little girl! She is probably just lonely. I am not an expert on issues with egg-laying, but my girls rarely lay in winter. Have you considered getting her a new friend?

 

[Kirstals]

There are 7 other chickens in the coop but she’s distanced herself from them. She was always good with the others but now not interested at all

 

[chelseachook]

There are 7 other chickens in the coop but she’s distanced herself from them. She was always good with the others but now not interested at all

Oh! Sorry, I thought she was the only one. My chickens used to have little friendship groups. We got a dog earlier this year and trusted him too much which resulted in the death of 3 bantams. The remaining bantam wasn't interested in the other hens for a little while, but now they all have accepted her and they are all getting along well. It might take your silkie some time to adjust.

 

[Rachnicko]

I’m wondering if she could still be broody. Was she sitting in a nest box? Mine have been broody and sat on nothing!

 

[wemimew]

I have had silkies grieve the loss of their best friends before. The first time I didn’t catch it early enough and I lost both of them. First thing to do is rule out illness and them being broody - both will encourage them to separate from the flock. If health is good and there is no grunting or clucking she probably misses her friend and has no one else there to pair up with. Time will help her to settle in with those lower than her on the pecking order but in the mean time just be her friend if you can. if you have a rooster he will help her to fit in. Note that there is also a lead up to being broody, they will start grunting at things they don’t like and spend longer in the box after laying an egg. They usually start to isolate themselves a bit during this time (mostly because they are grumpy and no one wants to put up with them - that’s how it goes in my flock anyway)