I'm not sure if chickens can get clinically depressed but I'm inclined to believe they can, based upon the what I've noticed when two or three 'buddies' are separated, for whatever reason.
Can depression be brought on naturally by the changes of the seasons....I don't think so. In fact, I'm with the folks who might think adding too much (or any) artificial light could adversely affect their moods. JMHO
As an aside...I'm a bit depressed. I've lost 6 of the 25 capons that I worked on over the past week. Many might think caponization is not NATURAL, but since it has been practiced for so many centuries, it might fall into the 'gray area'.
A friend tells me that the loss is small for it being my first time and that does give me a bit of hope. I feel pretty certain the rest are going to be ok and for those of you who have eaten capons, I hope you folks at least understand why I like them so well over their testosterone-filled counterparts. I've seen so many cockerels simply destroyed and thrown into the garden or garbage and while that might be natural.....it is surely shameful to waste such a prospect of excellent protein in this world of ever-rising prices and chronic shortages of food for so many.
I hope I didn't offend anyone!
Turk