lingering trauma to hen

[wakely11]

I know that trauma to chickens from seeing predator attacks have been discussed but my hen isn't getting any better. Although she was not injured she watched her chick being killed. It's been 3 weeks and she still won't come out of the chicken coop. Should I bring her in the house?

 

[hayley3]

Mine were involved in the massacre two weeks ago and still they do not wish to come out of their coop. They are afraid and rightly so. They used to all run for the door when it opened but now they do not. Mine have just started to talk again, but it's still not much.

Does yours not have any other chicken friends?

 

[wakely11]

Yes, we have other chickens that are with her. We let them out of the chicken yard to roam in the backyard for about an hour every afternoon so I'm thinking I'll carry her out and then shut the gate so she'll have to get out and about. Good to know that someone else has had this experience and that it just takes time.

 

[21hens-incharge]

How is she getting along now?
Yes they get a little odd when an attack happens and some never fully snap out of it. My Delaware narrowly escaped a hawk attack last year and is still not quite right in the head. She also no longer lays eggs, none since the incident. She also panics at the smallest things like a rake on the leaves in the yard and runs into the coop screaming her head off.

 

[wakely11]

I started bringing her out in the backyard when the other chickens are out for their late afternoon expedition. Closed the gate to the chicken yard so she couldn't go hide in the chicken house. She didn't venture very far the first day but on day two she started roaming a little. Today she roamed a little more. Seems like it's a day by day thing. She's such a sweet little hen so I'm glad to see gradual improvement. We had chickens over twenty years ago when our daughter was young and we decided to have another go of it. This is what happens to some of us when children grow up. We dote on chickens. Ha!

 

[21hens-incharge]

OH MY GOODNESS that means I have empty nest syndrome hard core. Thirty one hens makes me think I need therapy.

I am glad she is doing better.