What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

Need your opinion, or experiences. 4 pullets are roosting together in my apple tree ( the tree is inside the protected area). Now that the weather is dry, it seems to be ok, but is it? Do you think I should wrangle them and put them in the coop nightly? Or let weather get them inside, when it starts raining, especially, and the leaves fall off the tree? I only have the rest of this week before I leave on vacay. Maybe wait until I get back? I know ferals roost in trees, right?

Mine have never shown any inclination to roost in my cherry tree so I have no direct experience but if they're safe from predators and it's warm and sheltered enough, I can’t see it being harmful?

 

[MaeM]

I'm so, so sorry. I know how much you've been through together and how much it hurts to lose a 'special' one. I'm still grieving for Penelope, 3 months on. She also died in her sleep after a long period of ill health.
I'd keep a close eye on Eris. It might be worth getting her a health check in case she is ill. Sometimes it's hard to tell physical illness from 'mental illness', for want of a better word. She could well be grieving if she was close to Bianca. Gladys, my Shetland hen, was depressed for months after losing her sister, Alice, at 18 months old. She went off her food and off lay. She wouldn't come out of the coop for 3 days. She was still eating enough to survive and would still take her favourite treats. She was very disinterested in life for a good month and then started slowly improving. She also became very depressed after we lost Maude. In both cases, Gladys had a very strong bond with the two girls that died. From my observations, I don't think they grieve in the same way for other flockmates they're less close to.
I always let the flock spend time with the one that's passed. I think it helps them understand what's happened and not just that one of the flock has suddenly disappeared. The dynamics may well play differently in larger flocks. I've never had more than 8 chickens at a time so I couldn't say.

I see what you mean. Callia, my other hen, was literally screaming when I was burying Bianca. And Eris couldn't stop watching the process.

After that, her health quickly declined. I took her to a hawk vet (ironically?) because he was the only one available to see her.

He told me that stress from Bianca's death could've affected her immune system. Lethargy evolved into diarrhea and breathing difficulties. Hawk vet says it's probably coriza. He gave her a shot of antibiotics, and today, she has an appointment with the chicken doctor.

I'm under so much stress myself, guys. There's something worse than having a sick hen - it's having it when you're trying to grieve your favorite one's death.

 

[Maddcatter]

Need your opinion, or experiences. 4 pullets are roosting together in my apple tree ( the tree is inside the protected area). Now that the weather is dry, it seems to be ok, but is it? Do you think I should wrangle them and put them in the coop nightly? Or let weather get them inside, when it starts raining, especially, and the leaves fall off the tree? I only have the rest of this week before I leave on vacay. Maybe wait until I get back? I know ferals roost in trees, right?

In my experience, it's better to not let them get used to roosting on places you don't want them to be in. I think a lot of my chicks have tried it at one point of another, but the vast majority of them learned to roost in the coop after a day or 2 of getting herded in at night. When I had to change what coop my birds were in, it took a week to get them all into the correct coop.

I did have one chick that was determined to roost some where not the coop. She took an entire week and a half. She's also thinks I'm her rooster, and still likes being carried something like 6 months later.

 

[ValerieJ]

Need your opinion, or experiences. 4 pullets are roosting together in my apple tree ( the tree is inside the protected area). Now that the weather is dry, it seems to be ok, but is it? Do you think I should wrangle them and put them in the coop nightly? Or let weather get them inside, when it starts raining, especially, and the leaves fall off the tree? I only have the rest of this week before I leave on vacay. Maybe wait until I get back? I know ferals roost in trees, right?

I had two RIR's who did the same thing. I let it go, thinking it was cute that they wanted to roost in the apple tree. One day a golden eagle scooped one right out of the tree. So, although the area was protected from land predators, it was not protected from the birds of prey. After that, I never let the other one roost in the tree.

This is one of my favorite videos. Little Red Haired Girl always had to give a final speech before roosting. She is the one the eagle got.

ETA: This happened in my first flock 9 years ago. Have learned so much since then. My first hard lesson of many.

 

[kurby22]

Today I found Bianca dead in the nest box. She was chronically ill and she died in her sleep.

And Eris is lethargic. Doesn't want to eat, not even treats. She just hides her head in her feathers and sleeps. She responds to her name and kinda walks around but...

I don't know, should I worry that she's sick or is she grieving? My mother saw her sitting next to Bianca's body.

I’m so sorry for your loss. I know you care very deeply for your girls and it’s so hard to watch them feel poorly and not be able to always fix it. She was well loved. It’s possible Eris is feeling sad if they were close/bonded at all. I’d check her over for mites and such just to rule things out and maybe give her some extra vitamins in her water for a few days just to help her out.

 

[kurby22]

I see what you mean. Callia, my other hen, was literally screaming when I was burying Bianca. And Eris couldn't stop watching the process.

After that, her health quickly declined. I took her to a hawk vet (ironically?) because he was the only one available to see her.

He told me that stress from Bianca's death could've affected her immune system. Lethargy evolved into diarrhea and breathing difficulties. Hawk vet says it's probably coriza. He gave her a shot of antibiotics, and today, she has an appointment with the chicken doctor.

I'm under so much stress myself, guys. There's something worse than having a sick hen - it's having it when you're trying to grieve your favorite one's death.

Yes, I’ve totally been where you are. I had a really bad winter my second winter owning chickens and lost two of my most favorite birds while two or three others were super sick. I sobbed on and off for weeks over it all and almost quit having chickens because the pain was so all-consuming. It’s not easy for people to always understand this type of response to the loss or illness of a chicken (or any pet sometimes) but we are who we are and some of us bond very tightly to our animals regardless of type. That connection is real and deserves to be honored thru grieving and support. I’m so sorry Eris is unwell and the hawk vet is likely right, that the stress of losing Bianca triggered an illness due to a lowered immune response. My birds always get sick after some type of stress, heat, rain, new chickens…she needs vitamins, extra protein, antibiotics and lots of love. Hugs to you, I hope things ease up soon for you.

 

[fuzzi]

I had two RIR's who did the same thing. I let it go, thinking it was cute that they wanted to roost in the apple tree. One day a golden eagle scooped one right out of the tree. So, although the area was protected from land predators, it was not protected from the birds of prey. After that, I never let the other one roost in the tree.

This is one of my favorite videos. Little Red Haired Girl always had to give a final speech before roosting. She is the one the eagle got.

ETA: This happened in my first flock 9 years ago. Have learned so much since then. My first hard lesson of many.

I loved that video.

 

[fuzzi]

I pulled up my squash plants, brought them into the chicken run, and sliced open the vines to extract the vine borers. Even the chicks were enjoying the treats!

 

[TropicalBabies]

@MaeM I am so sorry for your loss There is no easy way around your feelings of loss. May your other chickens help ease your pain, that and time ♡. I am really, really glad you brought your momma chicken to the hawk vet good call.

@PopoMyers I think it wise to get those little rascals into good habits. I've had a few roost in a tree due to personalities or space issues. I get them down with a hose if I have to. I know it is warmer here, but usually just a few squirts gets them moving. Just a bad habit that leads to other bad habits.

 

[Nomadicus]

I had to use the water hose on a coop of Dark Cornish to get them back in their coop at night. They are no problem at all now that they lay in the nest box inside their coop. There are 8 hens and two roosters that work together to herd them in a dusk.