Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Whitney Buchanan on December 1, 2012 at 9:39am

Hens slow down in the winter, they aren't traumatized by what happened a month ago. I'd feed lay crumble, hen scratch, and make oyster shell and grit available - period - and see if they start getting back to normal digestion.

Permalink Reply by jenprosser on December 1, 2012 at 9:47am

Gayle, Im so sorry for your loss. I've experienced this too frequently. They will recover. I had my first batch of 25 chickens (& 2 roos) almost completely slaughtered by a neighbor's dog. We had maybe 7 or 8 hens and 1 roo that survived.

I don't recall how long the recovery took for the remaining hens, but it wasn't that long (meaning, it wasn't months and months) before they were back to their old clucking selves. 

It may have helped that there was still one rooster remaining who would have perhaps encouraged the hens to get out and forage since that's part of his job. 

During a moult, I find that once they've grown their feathers back hens will typically start laying after winter solstice. I figure about a 3 month well-deserved vacation from laying when they go through a moult. Some will not take as long, but others may even take longer. 

Sounds like you are taking very good care of them. Hopefully they will be back to their old selves soon. 

Jen

Permalink Reply by Gayle Wise on December 1, 2012 at 10:08am

Thank you so much for your encouraging and speedy replies. It's good to hear that recovery is likely. Do you have a local source for high quality lay feed, preferably organic? I was buying from Ranchway, but they must be out of business now.

But, I disagree that my hens are not traumatized by what happened a month ago. Their behavior is completely changed. Some even forget to go in to roost some evenings.

Permalink Reply by douglas binder on December 1, 2012 at 12:02pm

There is a psychiatrist in Corrales who specializes in poultry.  I'm not sure about his expertise with canine induced trauma, but it might be worth checking into.  My hens have been seeing him for years, and with his assistance they have finally come to grips with the trauma of having been separated from their mother at such an early age.

Tragically, they never did come to know their father, who was always a distant presence in their lives.  They are working through that though.

Permalink Reply by Gayle Wise on December 1, 2012 at 9:01pm

Thanks, Doug, for the referral.

When you make your next appointment, consider accompanying your hens, Mr. Smarty Pants! ;)

Permalink Reply by M Sanchez on December 1, 2012 at 10:04am

Gayle,
Sorry to hear about the traumatic attack to your girls.
I have not had that happen as our Hens are in a coop.

We did have a problem with "not laying" so we cooked

up some soybeans and gave them a "push" to start laying

again. Which worked well. Good Luck.

Marty 

Permalink Reply by Danielle Ramsey on December 1, 2012 at 10:32pm

I would keep them. They will start laying again. This time of year everyone is slowing down because of molting and light issues. I have 8 layers, I am getting 2 eggs a day right now. And they haven't had the shock yours had. I have 3 that are molting, and 2 that just finished. Give it a bit. Molting can last up to 8 weeks. My Leghorn took a 6 week hiatus from laying during her molt. She just laid again yesterday.

Permalink Reply by Gloria M on December 2, 2012 at 11:46am

I am so sorry for what has happened.  I agree with the others.  Keep your lovelies.  You have put so much care into them and they have gifted you in return thus far. In some ways, I guess you have to be the rooster.  Encourage them to go out, stay with them as long as you can, encourage them to roost.  They will get back into the swing, I am sure.  Perhaps an enclosed coop would help you feel they are more secure. 

We have 6 gals and only one, a leghorn, is laying, because her little body says it must, even during moult.

Permalink Reply by Gayle Wise on December 12, 2012 at 8:04pm

My hens are doing better. Not laying good yet, (about one egg every day or so) but behavior-wise are much more normal. I began feeding them scratch in addition to pellets, and adding electrolytes to their water, and feeding oyster shell. They look much happier, and have begun to make those sweet chicken sounds again. And boy how pretty they look now that the new feathers are coming in!

They have a totally enclosed coop, but we would allow them out in the yard when we were home. Now we only let them out when we are outside, remembering how quickly and easily the dogs scaled our walls and attacked.