Dog attack and now my hens won't use their roost

[lisa67steve99]

We recently went through an attack by a couple of our neighbors dogs and lost our only rooster and one of 13 hens. The dogs broke into the run and chased the girls into the coop but could not get through the chicken door. Our problem is now, for some reason, the surviving 12 hens will no longer use their roost. They all huddle together in one corner of the coop and fight over a position closest to the wall. I'm afraid some of them are going to suffocate. What can we do to get them back on their roost?

 

[Nocila]

You could try to put a roosting board or two (a flat surface, rather than poles, as chickens prefer to sleep on flat surfaces, unlike other birds) in the corner that they are all trying to sleep in, that way some of them might sleep on the ground, but, more than likely, they'll sleep up high... You could also try to retrain them to sleep up high by moving them up to the roosts every night... It might be a long process, but it's worth a shot... (I've got hens that try to sleep in the nesting boxes, even though they aren't broody...)

 

[lisa67steve99]

Well, for the second night we helped them up on the roost and they seemed to be familiarizing themselves with it again. Only had trouble with 2 tonight wanting to sit in the corner. Maybe they will get over the trauma soon and be back to normal.
Thanks!

 

[Folly's place]

They won't forget, but will go back to the roost, where they are more comfortable. So sorry for your loss. Hope the neighbor dog problem is solved, and the run is beefed up to be safer. Mary

 

[lisa67steve99]

Neighbor was very kind about it and got rid of the dogs. We did some major repairs and the coop and run are much more secure now. The hens are now using the roost as before and I am so glad.
thanks