possum attack and now no eggs for three weeks...

[megsneggs]

Hello to everyone. I had four but now three chickens and live in the suburbs of los angeles. They are two years old and would lay an egg pretty much daily like clock work. Up until three weeks ago when a possum got into my coop and run. It was mostly interested in eggs and left over scraps I am sure. We managed to get it out in the middle of the night in the pooring rain mind you but the possum had already gotten to the chickens. Not sure exactly what it did to them but one had a bloody eye and the other was obviously injured but I'm not sure where. Well two days later the injured hen passed on. All the others are fine now but they havent laid a single egg since the whole incident happened. Could they have been traumitized or something? What can I do to get them to lay again? Their droppings are very runny as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio. So sorry about you birds. I do believe chickens can be traumatized. It may take awhile for them to start up again. I hope no more possums get in. Good Luck.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Glad you joined us (wish it was under better circumstances).

Your remaining chickens could be traumatized, if you try posting in the emergency and injury section you might get more feedback. Good luck!

 

[SunshineSteedFarm]

and

Glad you joined us, you will love it here!

 

[megsneggs]

Hello to all and thank you for the warm welcomings. Yes they definately seem to be traumitized. They were laying nonstop for the past two years and than bam right after this attack all egg production was put to a halt.

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

Howdy!

I hope your biddies recover soon!

 

[megsneggs]

thank you so much to all that can help out. Is there anything I can do to eliviate the trauma of the possum attack night (3 wks ago) and to start egg production again? Is it harmfull to the chickens that they are not producing? Where are all those eggs going? I have 2 rhode island reds and 1 buff brahma. Thanks!

 

[Dandelion007]

from Oklahoma!

 

[incubatingisfun]

from alaska

 

[ChickensRCool]

Last winter our chicken house caught fire. Luckily, none of the chickens were seriously hurt (rooster was singed) and the chickens did not lay for over three weeks. So, I think they can be tramatized. I read on another post that adding cayanne pepper is sopose to help get chickens to lay. Not sure about tramatized ones though. Maybe just time and some treats will do the trick. Good Luck and welcome.