Hawk Scare

[aldarita]

My hens were scared when a neighbor's dog got loose and came to our chicken yard. They were protected inside the run but still got very scared (they were pullets back then). They stayed in their coop for 3 days, did not even want to come out to eat so I had to moved water and feed inside the coop. They eventually came out and life came back to normal. If your chickens are young, they are very easy to get frighten, but they will grow out of it after some time has passed.

 

[mrcush]

It's been 2 weeks tomorrow since the hawk scare and they still are hiding in the coop. I wonder if the molting has a little something to do with it?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Sounds odd. Any possibility of other critters cruising around during the day?

 

[mrcush]

Not really. We have a privacy fenced in back yard. I'm not sure what their problem is.

 

[mrcush]

So I opened up the coop and the run today to let it air out and they actually came outside and are underneath my deck right now. They seem spooked though.

 

[Country4ever]

Yes, they most definitely can get traumatized.
And I feel that if you're not willing to lose a chicken from a predator, they just have to stay in the safe run. .......unless their free-range time is supervised.........and still, that doesn't mean a hawk won't swoop down and get them right in front of you.