do chickens get depressed?

[PrairieChickens]

Is it possible she's gone broody?

 

[soggycrunchy]

Thanks! I do think she was trying to do that. I did more research and paid close attention to pictures. She was sitting the same way, all spread out wide with a big chest. She was sitting on 4 eggs. We took the eggs from her and she eventually got up and went downstairs. She seems normal now. I think she was sad! Poor babe.

 

[PrairieChickens]

You're lucky she relented so easily! lol Breaking broodies can be a real challenge sometimes.

 

[Meghanbennett15]

I'm wondering if this is what we are experiencing here. Monday night, something took one of our hens before we had gotten them locked up for the night. I heard them all screaming and crying, ran out, and one was missing. No blood, only feathers.

Now, one of the hens (same breed as the missing one) has taken straw from the nest boxes and formed her own nest on the floor of the house. She won't move, won't eat. Yesterday when the kids took them out to range and play, she wouldn't budge. She doesn't strike when they pet her.

They will be a year old late March.

This is probably an Owl that took your hen. They sometimes prey on small hens. So sorry. That’s the worst thing to wake to.