Traumatized Chickens

[Gabrielle1313]

I'm raising chickens for the first time and they are still really young-three and a half months old-and I think they are already traumatized. Recently an animal got in the coup at night while they were in there and my Rooster protected the others but got injured and we had to put it down. Now the others are too scared to go into the coup and every night I have to carry them one by one to the coup from our deck(We let them out in the morning and they are free range). Before this every night they would go into the coup on their own and I would just have to shut the door. Will they go back in the coup on their own again? Will this effect them when they lay in the future? How do I make them feel safe in their coup again?

 

[Kiki]

Welcome aboard!
We are glad you joined our flock.
They should eventually go back in on their own, but double check to make sure it is not secure.
This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC from Middle Tennessee It's going to take some time for them to get over the issue.

 

[drumstick diva]

They probably witnessed the attack, and will be very stressed and probably stop laying for a time. When they are feeling secure again, they will go back to their previous routine.

 

[Abriana]

To get them feeling comfortable again feed them something really yummy in the coop-some meat, bread, or corn on the cob-so that they will think "Good things happen in here!" Once you get them into the coop at night, give them a treat so that they will be more motivated to go in.
To prevent further attacks:
Replace all chicken wire (which predators can easily rip through) with hardware cloth
Make sure all doors are securely locked at dusk and you can put caribeeners on the locks for double security
Close up any holes, even holes that are less than two inches wide. Some species of weasel can slip through holes less than an inch wide
If you put the coop (if it is moveable and closed in with a moveable fence) near or under trees, make sure no tree branches overhang the fence. They make great raccoon highways!
Placing the coop under trees is always a good option, it will be very hard for hawks and other flying predators to get at your birds
Don't leave feed lying around that might attract predators, including treats fed during the day. Pick up all uneaten treats and put them in the coop or throw them away in the trashcan

I hope you are able to get your hens back into a regular routine again and I hope that you will have no more predator issues! By the way, you had a super great rooster! Hopefully you can find another like him. I have a Columbian Rock and he is fearless, but aggressive toward people who don't make him submit. Good luck with your flock!

 

[Gabrielle1313]

Thank you for all the help!

 

[Gabrielle1313]

Tonight was the first night they went into there coop on there own...yay!

 

[RAsChickens]

im not sure