Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[CrazyDaizy]

Hello

Unfourtunatly whilst we were on holiday and the chickens had gone around to the pet sitters for the two weeks we were away, one of our chickens, Cilla, died during one of the nights within the first few days of being there. We think she may have just passed away because of old age as she was about 4 1/2 although we're not sure. She was the most tame of our three and was the top of the pecking order. We are very sad she has passed away.

 

The other two have just returned home and they are both acting very weird. Amber, who is normally quite intrusive and commanding is wandering around the garden pecking at the grass (but not really eating it more leaving a trail behind her) and clucking continuiously and when i tried to give her some tomato, which is one of her favourite foods, she pecked it then ignored it and continued pecking the grass and clucking, also she is overly jumpy and acting abit mad.

Malibu has become Ambers sidekick now Cilla has gone and she seems just as shy and skitish as she was before but she still ate the food when i threw it to her (she refuses to come near people if she can help it) but she is clucking moreso as well.

 

Is this Amber mourning Cilla's death or is it something else?

Has anyone had chickens mourning before?

 

xx

[Egluntyne]

Could be, and could also be a bit of reacclimatising to their home surroundings.

 

See thread running **here**

[Jennifer Jane]

I don't know whether hens mourn - when Mabel died during the night back in April, the remaining two didn't seem to be bothered by her demise at all.

 

However, when Matilda was under the weather a couple of months back and sat all hunched up under the garden table, Maud went and sat with her. I thought this was very sweet, especially as a couple of weeks earlier I watched through the window as Matilda chased Maud round and round the garden, Benny Hill style, and plucked a tail feather out when she caught her.

 

So I do think Maud would miss Matilda, not sure about the other way round though!