ChicksbyGrace
In the Brooder
- Jan 24, 2024
- 17
- 17
- 41
Hello all. I'm not sure if this is the right thread. If not, please let me know who to ask.
A friend of mine lost most of her flock to a predator attack. The day after she found one hen (Sweetie, she is truly a sweetheart) roaming the yard. My friend knew a grown hen alone is not good. I have a good sized flock so she asked if I could take her. Of course I did. I thought she would be traumatized but she bounced back quickly in the 3 days she spent in the run (I have a run and small chicken coop that abuts my main coop and chicken run for acclimating chickens and broody mamas.) I put her on the roast with my flock the 3rd night and she is doing well.
The next morning my friend called. They had found another hen (Honey-Girl) hiding under her husband's car. She put her in the old coop overnight. She asked if I could also take her. I came over the next morning (4 days after the attack). The poor thing was shaking when I went into the coop to pick her up. She didn't fight but was clearly frightened.
She has been with me 5 days now. I also put her on the roost on the night of the third day of getting used to the flock. The flock is fine with her. I was surprised that there wasn't much of the pecking order stuff. Only the younger birds pecked at here but it didn't last long.
She is still very traumatized. once off the roost in the morning she goes to one nesting box and hides. In the afternoon, she will go out and hang out on a crate in the yard that is for temporary holding of a bird if needed. She stays there all day. She did eat a few berries I left on the crate yesterday once I turned away and wasn't looking directly at her.
I'm not sure what I can do to help her get past this. My hens have always been bold and independent. I like that about them. I don't handle them a lot. I Just handle them if I need to and be with them, care for them.
Do I give her time to heal and get her "mojo" back. I don't want her to give up.
I've learned the hard way when a chicken gives up, there is nothing I can do to save them. It breaks my heart when that happens.
The picture is Honey-Girl in the nesting box this morning. As far as we can tell she has not yet laid an egg since the attack (9 days ago)
Any ideas on what to do next? Thank you for any advice.
A friend of mine lost most of her flock to a predator attack. The day after she found one hen (Sweetie, she is truly a sweetheart) roaming the yard. My friend knew a grown hen alone is not good. I have a good sized flock so she asked if I could take her. Of course I did. I thought she would be traumatized but she bounced back quickly in the 3 days she spent in the run (I have a run and small chicken coop that abuts my main coop and chicken run for acclimating chickens and broody mamas.) I put her on the roast with my flock the 3rd night and she is doing well.
The next morning my friend called. They had found another hen (Honey-Girl) hiding under her husband's car. She put her in the old coop overnight. She asked if I could also take her. I came over the next morning (4 days after the attack). The poor thing was shaking when I went into the coop to pick her up. She didn't fight but was clearly frightened.
She has been with me 5 days now. I also put her on the roost on the night of the third day of getting used to the flock. The flock is fine with her. I was surprised that there wasn't much of the pecking order stuff. Only the younger birds pecked at here but it didn't last long.
She is still very traumatized. once off the roost in the morning she goes to one nesting box and hides. In the afternoon, she will go out and hang out on a crate in the yard that is for temporary holding of a bird if needed. She stays there all day. She did eat a few berries I left on the crate yesterday once I turned away and wasn't looking directly at her.
I'm not sure what I can do to help her get past this. My hens have always been bold and independent. I like that about them. I don't handle them a lot. I Just handle them if I need to and be with them, care for them.
Do I give her time to heal and get her "mojo" back. I don't want her to give up.
I've learned the hard way when a chicken gives up, there is nothing I can do to save them. It breaks my heart when that happens.
The picture is Honey-Girl in the nesting box this morning. As far as we can tell she has not yet laid an egg since the attack (9 days ago)
Any ideas on what to do next? Thank you for any advice.
