Hen with separation issues

[Skylar Bishop]

My 33 EE has some bad separation issues. If I skip 1 day of talking to her, she gets really clingy, and I have just gotten back from a 9 day trip. She is happy I'm back but she was miserable when I left. Is there anyway I can help her cope next time I leave? Should I get her more toys? I will also be moving sometime next year and can't bring her with me, I want to make sure that she is happy so she doesn't get depressed or sick.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Just tell her you were only gone a minute. She lives in the present.

Gary

 

[sdaikus]

Leave a picture or recording with the person who watches them? I'm not sure how to help, but I do think this is the cutest chicken mom problem

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

There is such thing as chicken diapers. Take her with you!

I had a hen who got attached to a flock of Cornish Xes. She was the saddest site out there when all of the Cornish Xes were gone. She wouldn't even go near any of the other chickens. She eventually forgot about them, for chickens don't have the best memory.

 

[aart]

Chances are it bothers you more than her.
Beware of anthropomorphizing.

 

[theoldchick]

I really, really hate leaving my animals, too. Is your chicken a house chicken? Is she alone? If so, you can always hire a house/pet sitter to stay with her during the day. You can provide a mirror so she can see herself. And instead of simply putting food in a bowl, design toys that will make her forage for her food. You can put her favorite treat in a clean dry 16 oz clear water bottle with a few small holes in to force her to peck and move the device so food will be released.

If she is part of a flock, there should be no problem. She has other chickens to keep her busy. The fact that she remembers you after a nine day trip is pretty darn good.

 

[Skylar Bishop]

She is in a flock, but I have raised her and the others as pets inside then put them outside in a coop. She still acts like a chick and follows me around everywhere, she even tries to follow me into the house. There was one point she would do this loud annoying cluck until I got out of the house.
I have also recently got a new bantam hen and my EE has been trying to mother hen her while the others are trying to sort out pecking order, so like a hen protecting her chicks she attacks them. I would get her some chicks care for but winter is about to hit and I'm moving next year.

I have to be careful about giving her food she has a tendency to overeat, and recently she got an impacted crop which has stretched her crop. I usually string up a cabbage head for her to peck at, so I will start doing that again. I will also put her toys back out there.

 

[micstrachan]

Ok, that has got to bethe cutest problem ever. I believe she misses you. I also believe she will adjust with time.