Do Hens Grieve?

[rstaples]

Our Favorite Hen, Ditzy (a Barred Rock), passed away in mid-March. Ever since, our Ameraucana, Gorgeous, has stopped laying eggs! They were great pals, and dominated by Rosie, our Rhode Island Red. Now with no Ditzy, Gorgeous seems sad, although Rosie doesn't really seem to pick on her. Rosie lays great, but no eggs from Gorgeous. Could she be sad? She doesn't want to sit on the nest as if she is broody.

 

[Cetawin]

I think they can mourn...I have seen it with a roo's favorite girl when the roo dies. But to grieve this long...I am just not sure.

 

[The Wolf Queen]

You never know. Chickens have feelings to and im sorry about your hen

 

[thndrdancr]

I had a pullet grieve for about three months when she lost her best friend, in fact, I wasnt sure she was going to pull out of it herself, she was not laying age yet when it happened, but she did go off her feed quite drastically and was definitely "depressed". She went around with her tail down, and was not chipper at all.

So I would say yes, for sure they can grieve. I think it depends a lot on the chicken too.

 

[Ky Chicken Fan]

Quote:
Hi and welcome to BYC. I sure think that they do. We usually get 2 of any type of hen when we get them... 2 silver laced wyandottes, 2 australorps, 2 light brahmas, etc. The SLWs were the oldest hens, and "in charge" in the coop. This winter 1 of them died. It took her sister months before she made a comeback. She was no longer in charge, let others push others and even her around, was listless, didn't eat well. We have too many hens to know for sure if she quit laying or not, but I am sure that she probably wasn't laying. I wasn't sure she would make it herself.

I had moved 2 comets that were bullies out during the winter when all this was starting and the hen was failing before she died. Eventually several months later I had to move them back to the "layer coop" and as soon as they hit the ground the old wyandotte was immediately on them bossing them around. While she isn't as much the top bird as she was when her sister was alive, she is much more herself. I think it just takes time for them to get over it. I have had other hens that reacted similarly in similar situations, but not as dramatically as this story. Good luck with your girls, hopefully she will bounce back soon.

 

[LizzyJo]

I think they are sad when their friends die. But there is another possibility. What did the friend die of? Is it possible that the sad one is sick from the same thing?

 

[rstaples]

We are not sure why Ditzy died--it was either a blockage of some sort (neighborhood kids fed her something during keep away), or more likelyl egg bound. She was ill on a Monday afternoon and passed away on Wednesday noon. We separated her from the others on Tuesday. All the girls are/were about 9 months old.

 

[Matt A NC]

Some folks will say that this is silly and that we are just humanizing them. Well, I have seen chickens greive.

We had 2 hens that were right at 10 years old. They had been together all their lives and here for 8 of those years. Priscilla suddenly became an internal layer and infection set in really bad. We had no choice but to put her down. For several days after Prissy would not eat. She just stood in their old spot and looked around. At night she would go into the henhouse and go up to their spot. She wouldn't let another hen roost beside her in Priscilla's spot. After six days she was so weak we made a choice and laid her to rest with her sister.

Early this year I lost my little Stella to a hawk. For almost 2 months Dumpling just sort of moped around. Dumpling and Stella were raised together and stayed together all the time. Any show I took them to, they traveled in the same pet carrier. Dumpling just didn't have any interest in being with any of the other birds and kept to herself. Mostly she hung out under the front bushes only coming out to eat, drink, and go to roost. About mid March she picked herself up and moved on. She is back to her old self and being a bossy little thing. Stella was a Mille Fleur d'Uccle and Dumpling is a Mottle d'Uccle. Dumpling has picked up with Friz and seems happy again.

Matt

 

[Imp]

I think they do grieve. When I've had a hen die the others are very quiet and don't leave the coop for a couple days. But if the hen dies in the big house there is no reaction from the others. I can't be certain because I haven't had that many die. They also don't react if I bring in a sick hen and when she recovers I return her to the coop.

Imp

 

[rstaples]

Thank you all for such quick responses. It makes me feel better knowing that Gorgeous is not alone. She is a beautiful bird, and such a sweet disposition. We will keep giving her pets and love and wait for her to mourn.