Possible broody

[ShrekDawg]

Indeed...that's where you need to control your emotions, she can feel your anxiety and it can make her more anxious. Haha, it's hard, but you can do it.

She will get used to it.
I do let mine out during breaking, after the first few days and never when they are struggling to get out, just to let her stretch her legs, take a dust, and see how quickly she might go back to nest...gotta stand watch tho and put her right back in the crate the second she goes for the nest. Hang in there, you got this!

Thanks a lot, aart! That's really helpful!

So you don't let them out till after a few days? I hadn't realized that. That's good to know. I guess i won't try it!

I do have yet another question though...

Something tried to get the chickens last night and I'm convinced it's because she's out there as bait of course, the dog wasn't here last night either (brother took him and I didn't think, gee, maybe he should stay till after he left...) so maybe since he's here tonight he can protect them? But can i bring her inside or something?

There were feathers all over, even outside the pen, I think it's from them freaking out?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Also this doesn't help my emotions.

 

[aart]

Could very well be she was 'bait' or rather an attractant....
....especially with the crate being right against the pen wall and on the ground.
Easier than usual access to any prowling preds.
Yes, bringing her inside for the nights might be in order,
as you don't have much room to work with.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yeah, that was my thought as well. She's technically the most secure of anyone with all that fencing I added to her corner but the predators don't know that

and the corner was probably a bad place but was one of the only places I had room.

So only bring her in at night? Is that so she doesn't lose her place in the flock or something?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That would be stressful for both you and the hen. Crazy that something came up like during the first night, must of had it's eye on your birds for a while. I don't think you will have troubles if you keep cage somewhere else for 3 days, well technically about 2 now. I don't let mine out at all, until 3 days have passed. I don't want them getting ideas.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yeah, it was and yeah, it is a little strange it came by on the first night, huh? We've had raccoons twice and a fox (I'm thinking the same one?) come by several times over the last few months so I'm wondering if it wasn't the fox coming back? Although usually he's bold and my dad sees him take off, or look at him first, and the dog usually goes crazy sniffing over a fox. Yet he didn't seem to care when he got home. Although maybe it rained and washed it away or something. I think I will bring her inside tonight and keep her there a while hah

 

[ShrekDawg]

And here is my post on it, doesn't really say too much different but just some more details on the specifics and some pictures of the scene haha dad doesn't seem to think they could do that to themselves but I think it's very possible if they were thrashing?

And there's this thing I noticed on Penny's head

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/feathers-everywhere.1175784/

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You said you let them free range? I would let her rejoin the flock while they are out and about, after the few days, they shouldn't even notice she was gone.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yeah, I stopped for a few months but lately I've been trying to let them out every day unless it's raining or something. So I should separate her so as to not attract the predators and then I can just reintroduce her while they free range? Sounds like a good plan, thanks

And especially since it's not every day, I think they'll just be sooo happy to get to go out they wont notice?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yeah, I stopped for a few months but lately I've been trying to let them out every day unless it's raining or something. So I should separate her so as to not attract the predators and then I can just reintroduce her while they free range? Sounds like a good plan, thanks

And especially since it's not every day, I think they'll just be sooo happy to get to go out they wont notice?

That's the plan, hopefully your hens follow it.