Chicken has PTSD

[LynneR]

We have lost five so far but haven't noticed any PTSD. I had my chickens sleeping in the garage after the attacks, while I got the coop finished, so they got used to a specific plastic bin and the garage being their coop. What I did was leave the bin outside for a couple nights, and they would jump I the bin, which I would then move to the coop and lock them in. The I just left the bin in the coop and they started going in there. It was a training exercise for them, but they have it now. . Good luck, hope this helps!

 

[chickytweet]

I'm not sure I taught her how to feel. The night after the incident when I tried put her into the coop she freaked out and fought with all she had. She even pecked at me. It was like I was trying to kill her. It broke my heart so I brought her inside and made a bed for her. After many attempts by her to sleep in our bed I moved her bed up high on a perch. Until we grew her a flock, that is were she has slept, but now she has a flock who she is the queen of. No excuses she needs to sleep in the coop.

 

[appps]

I meant you taught her the high life of living inside.

She would be strange not to be scared of it at first. She had a scary experience and needs retraining that it's a good not bad place. Mine were super nervous for weeks after the goshawk took one of them. Until she is on antidepressants, having shock therapy and no longer able to function in her daily life without help she isn't suffering from ptsd though. After this time she is far more likely to be suffering from the much more common CSR syndrome. Chicken spoilt rotten ;-)

 

[LynneR]

Sounds good!