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

[megsneggs]

Hello to everyone. I am new to this forum and am looking for some fellow chicken commorodery. 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. The possum 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. The one that survived with a bloody eye and lost tail feathers is now losing all its feathers around its neck. Any help would be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!

 

[easttxchick]

I believe I have read on here somewhere(and I don't know what section it was in) about stress causing chickens to stop laying. I sure hope your injured one makes a full recovery.

I know that putting electrolytes in their drinking water is good in times of stress(can get it at the feed store).

I really don't know how long it would take them to lay again.

Wish I had more answers for you and also

.

 

[megsneggs]

Thank you very much for your advice. I will look for the post about stress causing stop in egg production. I really appreciate it. I do not want to loose all my ladies. That would be just too sad.
THank you Thank you!

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

Yes, trauma will stop them from laying.
Electrolytes will help with their stress. They have had their home invaded, so it will take some time for them to start laying again.

Jean

 

[megsneggs]

Ok. Yes... they were definately tramatized than with that nasty possum taking over and eating everything in their run and coop. The possum was huge and scary even to me. It was bigger than my 20lb rat terrier. Even my husband was freaked out by the thing and he usually loves to scare off anytype of wild life that comes across our property. The possum was not afraid of people and wouldnt budge when we tried to move it out of the area. I will get the electolytes right away and hopefully they will some how adjust. I just feel so bad for them to have gone thru such a thing and we miss our yummie homegrown backyard eggs!!!!

 

[lovetocook]

A few extra treats wouldn't hurt either. My girls may be a bit spoiled but I always find that when they are traumatized by something pests, the weather or a predator an extra bit of attention & some extra treats seem to get them back on track a bit quicker. And by the way

 

[megsneggs]

Thank you for your advice "lovestocook". I do try to pamper them. I give them table scrapes, they are weeding and bugging out my garden until I get ready to plant (which is soon... yeppie). What type of "treats" do you give your chickens?

 

[lovetocook]

Sunflower seeds, shredded cabbage, raw ground beef (small amts) for extra protein if they have had a trauma, yogurt, quartered grapes.Like Isaid they are spoiled!!

 

[megsneggs]

Thank you "lovetocook" for your great treat tips. You know.. I avoid giving my chickens any meat, dairy foods because I thought that they were not good for them. I give the dog any meat/dairy leftovers and the chickens get all the rest. Its ok to give them meat and raw meat? How often do you give them meats? I strictly make sure they only eat the laying pellets/ mash/ grains and any non-meat left overs, veggies, weeds, & bugs from the garden.

 

[lovetocook]

There is no need to give them meats very often unless they arenot getting enough protein in their regular diet. But you can give them as treats once in awhile or as I said in times after they have had some trauma. They absolutely love scrambled or boiled eggs which are very good when nursing them back to health from sickness. If any eggs get frozen cause I can't get to them in time, I will scramble them up & feed them back with their shells & the girls think they have died & gone to heaven. They also love yogurt which is very good for them & adds calcium to their diet also.