Chicken traumatized
by Stephanie Piver
Chicken traumatized: We had a Rhode Island Red and a silver lacy in a coop. They were both free roam and at night would faithfully put themselves away. We also have an Americana that lives separately due to other two chicks being mean. Anyways, one night the gate of the two girls was left open and a predator got our silver lacy. Ever since then our red refuses to put herself up and has been perching on our deck instead. She also has been laying her eggs in our Americana's coop. Was she traumatized and is afraid it go to her coop? Not sure what we should do, obviously she can't sleep outside by herself. I wouldn't mind if she stayed with the Americana however she is always pecking her. Which I know is normal but last time she about pecked a whole right through her. Some advice on why she is acting like this and what we should do to make her go in a coop at night. Answer It's unclear which or if all are chicks. Yes, the RIR has learned that her coop is unsafe at night. To get the RIR back to roosting where you want her, just catch her and keep her there for a few days. She will realize that it's safe and you must keep it locked up at night. (I've lost more chickens to night predators, than any other problem.)Chickens are individuals and often just don't like another chicken. It could be age or size difference, sometimes it's just the difference in breeds or not being raised together. In a normal flock there would be at least one rooster. His attentions to the hens and his dominance in the flock, often keep the girls from getting too upset with each other. |