How do you deal with your stressed hen? (non-emergency)

[OrahSmiles]

Hi friends. Two nights ago, one of my four hens (1.5-year-old) did not make it into their coop before the automatic door shut (we have since changed the settings and seems to be fine now as they were all safe and sound in there last night). Unfortunately, I didn't notice until the next morning. For the past two days she's been acting extra skittish, doing a lot of walking close to the ground like she scared and trying to hide, she seems a little disoriented. She will drink and eat but needs extra calling/coaxing to get to where I feed them. I've sprinkled dried chamomile in their coop and yesterday I put a little in their water as well.
Oh, she's also molting...so double whammy for my sweet girl....

I'm wondering what y'all do for a stressed-out chicken. Hopefully with time she's back to her normal self...is there anything else I can do to support her? Thanks, all!

 

[coach723]

Mostly you just monitor and let them work it out. If she's eating and drinking, then time will be all she needs. I've had birds that after a predator attack take several days to a week to really start trusting their environment again. They may refuse to leave the coop at all sometimes. When it's traumatizing it just takes some time. I've had birds locked out as well, my door is also on a timer. Sometimes, as the seasons change, it's easy to forget to change the timer. Sadly, for me, where I am that usually means a loss to a predator. So even though I have a timer, if I'm home, I go out and check to make sure everybody is in. Sometimes I'm late, but I do try. After winter solstice it's easier to get someone locked out, as the days are getting longer, so takes more attention to keep the timer right! Sometimes, if it's been cloudy and overcast for awhile (they tend to go in earlier then) and then you have a bright, sunny, clear day, they dawdle and stay out longer, and thus get locked out. My door is closely timed to sunset as my predator load is pretty high, so as bad as it sounds, it's "better" for me to lose one dummy than it is to lose everyone to something getting inside the coop if the door is open much past dark. My fayoumi's in particular like to dawdle, and if one does then usually someone else hangs with them.

 

[OrahSmiles]

Mostly you just monitor and let them work it out. If she's eating and drinking, then time will be all she needs. I've had birds that after a predator attack take several days to a week to really start trusting their environment again. They may refuse to leave the coop at all sometimes. When it's traumatizing it just takes some time. I've had birds locked out as well, my door is also on a timer. Sometimes, as the seasons change, it's easy to forget to change the timer. Sadly, for me, where I am that usually means a loss to a predator. So even though I have a timer, if I'm home, I go out and check to make sure everybody is in. Sometimes I'm late, but I do try. After winter solstice it's easier to get someone locked out, as the days are getting longer, so takes more attention to keep the timer right! Sometimes, if it's been cloudy and overcast for awhile (they tend to go in earlier then) and then you have a bright, sunny, clear day, they dawdle and stay out longer, and thus get locked out. My door is closely timed to sunset as my predator load is pretty high, so as bad as it sounds, it's "better" for me to lose one dummy than it is to lose everyone to something getting inside the coop if the door is open much past dark. My fayoumi's in particular like to dawdle, and if one does then usually someone else hangs with them.

Thank you for your words of experience and insight. Puts my heart at ease just to let time to the healing...and to be more alert about tending to the door. Best wishes with your flock...hope everyone stays safe!