And then there were 4

[KBaker71]

It has been a rough fall for my flock. I had 17 in September but after some were rehomed, one had to be put down, and a stray dog managed to squeeze through the coop door and killed some, including my first and favorite,--the "queen" of the flock--the remaining four are struggling. My rooster has not crowed, the 3 hens make soft, high pitched clucks every once in a while. All are afraid to come out into the yard, even if I am outside with them. I understand that they are depressed. (I've typed and erased possible solutions about 10 times here--treats, petting, more hens? See if I can get some of my hens back? Exercise? Therapy? Prozac?)

It's December, so there's no grass or bugs (I'm not sure they'd come out anyway to explore). It's teens and single digits most days. I'm lost and so are they. Suggestions?

 

[nuthatched]

Leave them alone to adjust by themselves, just give them time.

 

[Mrs. K]

Predators almost always get the favorite! So dang aggravating. Sorry for you and your flock, I have been there!

Time...they will snap out of it. Short days, long nights on the roost. The Solstice is coming, I think around January - especially if we get some bright sunny days they will snap out of it. Start looking at breeds and chicks, you got some room to work with!

The thing with chickens, is they are really not forever friends, or rather a short forever. Keep a flock, knowing birds will come in and out of the flock. Sometimes that helps. As my granddaughter says, that sucks, but now we can get chicks.

Mrs K