So I did put Ruby back in the run before I left for work. When I got home, I did not see her waiting for me at the gate with the other hens. As I was approaching them I kept calling her name. Right as I got to the gate she came out of the coop and was eager to get out with everybody. She ended up free ranging for almost another three hours! She did not go to bed early at all tonight. In fact, she was fourth to last out of 13 hens.
Here’s the best part. Ruby actually tried to roost tonight! I saw her standing on the shelf at the nest boxes debating what to do. She eventually jumped up and checked out the upper level of the coop, but then settled on a roost that’s just above the nest boxes.
Unfortunately, roosting time shenanigans ensued right after that, Buttercup kicked Lucky off the top roost, and then Lucky ended up in the spot Ruby had chosen (which is Lucky’s usual spot).. Ruby did end up back down in a nest box, but the fact that she tried to roost is really promising in my opinion.
Ok, I’m going to try to respond in a comprehensible manner. Please bear in mind I was outside working in a heatwave for 13hrs today, so if this comes out too garbled let me know and I’ll make it make sense tomorrow...
There are really only two options: confined or free range. The chickens, and Ruby, are used to confined, with only supervised ranging. That’s their normal. I would honestly continue as normal, and maybe try to enrich the run environment for her some, to make it more like their ranging time somehow. She’s not being pecked on, is starting to return to “normal” behaviors and is seeming to rebound. I wouldn’t change more than is absolutely necessary. She would be easy picking for any predator alone and free ranging all day.
That said... Yes, I have taken Chickens I knew were on the verge of passing and allowed them to free range and meet a quick end with a predator. The elderly barred rock when she lost all interest in the other chickens, feed, and life in general. She was being pecked on by some younger members in her tractor, and I was on the verge of culling her for her own sake. She didn’t seem to really be suffering, but had lost all will to live. She was happy to just sleep in the sun, on her own. I had resolved that if she didn’t pass on her own that night I would help her along (the next morning, I had been expecting to wake Up and find her passed on overnight for almost a week) but I came home to one less chicken and a poof of feathers from a hawk or eagle strike, there were no signs of a struggle, and I believe she met a quick and clean end.
Given Ruby’s situation, condition, and behaviors; I personally wouldn’t be ready to help her pass on just yet, and as such I also wouldn’t leave her out on her own. If possible I prefer to let chickens pass with their Family/Tribe if it’s safe and they aren’t suffering unduly. If they are in pain and all I can do to help is to hasten their passing and I am sure that they are near, then I am also willing to do that as necessary. I just made that decision on the runt of the foster chicks on Monday... it’s not an easy decision, by any means.
I think what I’m trying to say is with the predator pressures and your current coop/run/ranging system, leaving her free (though she may seem more happy and active) is essentially the same as deciding to cull her yourself. It’s not quite the same as actively committing the fatal blow, but chances are the result would be the same, and you would feel just as responsible when you came home and she was gone. If not worse, as she is used confinement and security, and to turn her loose alone is abnormal, and not something she is really prepared to cope with. It’s different with more independent free ranging tribes that are accustomed to full freedom, but that was not how she was raised.
It’s between a rock and a hard place, but I think you made the right choice in putting her back in for the day.
Edited for spelling and clarity*
The mouse seized the opportunity to escape and ran under the nearest vehicle.
