Your chicken may be experiencing stress if there has been a change in its environment, its needs are not being met, is suffering from an illness or is in pain and will make changes both behaviorally and physiologically in order to cope with the stressor.
Recognizing that your chicken is stressed and eliminating the stressor as soon as possible is essential so it doesn’t lead to a decrease in egg production and failing health.
Increases egg laying naturally.
- Improves chicken health.
- Deters parasites: mites, lice, fleas, flies & rodents.
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- Signs of Extreme Heat in Chickens
- Solutions to Extreme Heat in Chickens
- Signs of Extreme Cold in Chickens
- Solutions to Extreme Cold in Chickens
- Signs of Stress Due to Lack of Food and Water
- Solutions to Lack of Food and Water in Chickens
- Signs of Stress Due to Change in Familiar Surroundings
- Solutions to Stress in Chickens Due to Change in Surroundings
- Signs of Stress Due to Predators
- Solutions to Stress Due to Predators
- Signs of Stress Due to Isolation
- Solutions to Stress Due to Isolation
- Signs of Stress Due to Brooding or Raising Baby Chicks
- Solutions to Stress Due to Brooding and Raising Chicks
- Signs of Stress Due to Cramped Housing
- Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Cramped Housing
- Signs of Stress Due to Lack of Sunshine
- Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Lack of Sunshine
- Signs of Stress Due to Illness or Parasites
- Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Illness or Parasites
- Signs of Stress Due to Injury
- Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Injury
- Signs of Stress Due to Being Bullied
- Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Being Bullied
- Signs of Stress Due to Molting
- Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Molting
- About the Author
What causes stress in chickens?
| 1 | EXTREME HEAT IN CHICKENS | |
| 2 | EXTREME COLD IN CHICKENS | |
| 3 | LACK OF FOOD OR WATER | |
| 4 | CHANGE IN FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS | |
| 5 | PREDATORS | |
| 6 | ISOLATION | |
| 7 | CRAMPED HOUSING | |
| 8 | NOT BEING EXPOSED TO SUNSHINE | |
| 9 | ILLNESS- PARASITES | |
| 10 | INJURY | |
| 11 | BEING BULLIED | |
| 12 | BROODING, RAISING CHICKS | |
| 13 | MOLTING |
Common Signs that Your Chicken is Experiencing Stress
- Pale Comb and Wattle
- Decrease in Egg Production
- Lethargy
- Aggression
- Withdrawal from the Flock
- Labored Breathing
- Loose, Watery Stools
- Decreased Appetite
- Loss of Feathers
- Misshaped Eggs
1. Extreme Heat in Chickens
A chicken is not able to sweat, therefore has a difficult time cooling down if gets overheated. This is why it is important to take as many precautions as necessary to prevent your chickens from becoming overheated in the first place.
Signs of Extreme Heat in Chickens
An overheated chicken will open its mouth, pant and pull its wings away from its body in attempt to cool itself down. Hens will commonly stop laying during this time. Other signs are pale, dry combs and wattles as well as mis shaped eggs.
| SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS IN CHICKENS |
|---|
| PULLS ITS WINGS AWAY FROM ITS BODY IN ATTEMPT TO COOL DOWN |
| OPEN MOUTH, PANTING |
| DECREASE IN EGG PRODUCTION |
| PALE, DRY COMB AND WATTLE |
| MIS SHAPED EGGS |
Solutions to Extreme Heat in Chickens
Cooling Herbs for Chickens Beat the HEAT!
- INGREDIENTS: PEPPERMINT, HIBISCUS, LEMON BALM, CHAMOMILE, ROSE PETALS/BUDS
- Helps to lower chicken core body temperature.
- Improves Chicken Health and Well Being
- Releases muscle tension.
- Helps to calm chicken during stressful events(such as excessive heat).
For a detailed description of what you can do to make your flock more comfortable during extreme heat, read my article:
| SOLUTIONS TO COOLING CHICKENS DURING EXTREME HEAT |
|---|
| CHANGE WATER OUT FREQUENTLY |
| PROVIDE GOOD VENTILATION |
| SERVE COOL TREATS |
| DON’T FRED SCRATCH OR CORN DURING HOT SPELLS |
| LET THEM FREE RANGE |
| PROVIDE COOL DUST BATHING SPOTS |
| ADD A FAN TO THE COOP |
| PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SHADE |
| PROVIDE SHALLOW PANS OF WATER FOR THEM TO WALK IN |
| USE A MISTER |
2. Extreme Cold in Chickens
Chickens can tolerate below freezing weather much better than they can extreme heat. Their feathers are made to hold in warm pockets of air generated by their own body heat. Chicken feathers, with the exception of Silkies, are designed to repel water. They also use each other to keep each other warm.
Signs of Extreme Cold in Chickens
The most common sign of extreme cold in a chicken would be black marks on their comb and wattle. This is frost bite and it is due to the tissues freezing, providing a lack of circulation to this area. You may even see several chickens with their feathers fluffed up, huddled together or shivering. They may raise one leg up into their chest or tuck their head under a wing to keep warm.
| SIGNS OF EXTREME COLD IN A CHICKEN |
|---|
| BLACK MARKS ON COMB OR WATTLE |
| FEATHERS FLUFFED UP |
| HUDDLED WITH OTHER CHICKENS |
| SHIVERING |
| LIFTING ONE LEG INTO BELLY |
| TUCKING HEAD UNDER ONE WING |
Solutions to Extreme Cold in Chickens
During times of extreme cold, at night when your chickens are roosting, apply petroleum jelly or Vaseline to their combs and wattles.
Make sure they have protection from the elements, such as wind, rain and snow.
Make sure they are dry at night before roosting.
| SOLUTIONS TO EXTREME COLD IN CHICKENS |
|---|
| APPLY VASELINE TO COMBS AND WATTLES |
| PROVIDE SHELTER FROM WIND, RAIN, SNOW |
| MAKE SURE THEY ARE DRY BEFORE EVENING ROOSTING |
For additional information on how you can keep your chickens happy during really cold weather, read my article:
3. Lack of Food or Water
Signs of Stress Due to Lack of Food and Water
Chickens can get more aggressive when there is not enough food and water for the whole flock. They will fight and bully other flock mates for what little food there is.
It can also cause hens to decrease or stop laying eggs completely. Hungry and dehydrated chickens frequently have a pale comb and wattle.
Those at the bottom of the pecking order can become lethargic and weak due to a lack of nutrients. If this goes on long enough, it can also result in death.
| SIGNS OF LACK OF FOOD AND WATER IN CHICKENS |
|---|
| AGGRESSIVENESS/BULLYING |
| DECREASING OR STOPPING OF EGG PRODUCTION |
| PALE COMB AND WATTLE |
| WEAKNESS/LETHARGY |
| DEATH |
Solutions to Lack of Food and Water in Chickens
If you are having trouble providing enough food and water for your chickens, let them free range. There are so many bugs and natural greens that they can get just by free ranging! Make it a point to always have fresh water available to your flock.
To double the nutrients and the amount of your chicken feed, consider making chicken fodder out of it or fermenting it. It is so easy to do, will save you so much money and it is nutritionally better for your chickens too. For more information on how to do this, read my articles:
Don’t throw away your table scraps. Give them to your chickens. A chickens diet shouldn’t consist of more than 10% in “treats,” but if you cannot provide food in any other way, this is better than nothing.
Ask local restaurants, grocery stores and your neighbors to save their left over cuttings from fruits, veggies, etc. for you.
Start your own “Mealworm Farm.” It costs less than $5 to start and you will have never ending treats that are high in protein for your chickens.
If you are unable to provide sufficient nutrition for your chickens, it is best to find a home that can provide the proper nutrition for them.
| SOLUTIONS TO LACK OF FOOD AND WATER FOR CHICKENS |
|---|
| LET CHICKENS FREE RANGE |
| MAKE CHICKEN FODDER |
| FERMENT CHICKEN FEED |
| FEED TABLE SCRAPS |
| ASK RESTAURANTS, NEIGHBORS, STORES, FOR LEFT OVERS |
| START A “MEALWORM FARM” |
| REHOME CHICKENS |
4. Change in Familiar Surroundings
Chickens can become stressed if there is a change in their familiar surroundings. This includes transporting them to another location, combining two flocks, rearranging their coop and changing where they go to roost at night.
Signs of Stress Due to Change in Familiar Surroundings
A chicken may show signs of stress when their surroundings are changed in the following ways:
| SIGNS OF STRESS IN CHICKENS DUE TO UNFAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS |
|---|
| HENS STOP LAYING EGGS |
| DECREASED APPETITE |
| DIARREAH |
| PALE COMB AND WATTLE |
| NOT WANT TO GO INTO NEW COOP AT NIGHT |
Solutions to Stress in Chickens Due to Change in Surroundings
| SOLUTIONS TO DECREASE STRESS IN CHICKENS DUE TO UNFAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS |
|---|
| ADD ELECTROLYTES TO WATER |
| TRY TO MINIMIZE AMOUNT OF CHANGES |
| ENCOURAGE CHICKENS INTO COOP WITH TREATS |
| GRADUALLY INTEGRATE NEW FLOCK INTO EXISTING FLOCK |
5. Predators
Signs of Stress Due to Predators
Of course the biggest sign a predator has been around is either a loss of chicken(s), halo of feathers in the coop or yard or injured chickens.
If a predator has visited the coop, your chickens may suddenly not want to go back in there. Hens frequently will stop laying. They may even stop eating and hover as a group away from where the predator was or is.
Another sign is kids chasing or mis handling the chickens. This is very stressful for them and shouldn’t be allowed. Young kids that are not familiar with chickens should be supervised.
| SIGNS OF A CHICKEN PREDATOR |
|---|
| LOSS OF CHICKENS |
| HALO OF FEATHERS |
| CHICKENS AFRAID TO GO BACK IN COOP |
| STOP LAYING EGGS |
| STOPS EATING |
| FLOCK HUDDLES TOGETHER AWAY FROM WHERE PREDATOR WAS/IS |
| HOLES IN COOP |
| PREDATOR DROPPINGS |
Solutions to Stress Due to Predators
It’s time to predator proof your chicken coop to make sure that it is safe for your flock. Here are some good tips to ensure their safety:
| SOLUTIONS TO DETER CHICKEN PREDATORS |
|---|
| USE 1/4″ HARDWARE CLOTH TO KEEP PREDATORS OUT |
| GET A ROOSTER |
| GET A GUARD DOG |
| LOCK THEM IN THE COOP AT NIGHT |
| ELECTRIC FENCE |
| HAWK NETTING ON CHICKEN RUN |
| REMOVE UNEATEN FOOD AT END OF EACH DAY |
| SECURE FEED IN METAL CONTAINER |
| LOCATE COMPOST PILE AWAY FROM COOP |
| PICK FRUIT FROM TREES AS IT RIPENS |
| DON’T LEAVE PET FOOD OUT |
| TRAIN CHILDREN HOW TO HANDLE AND TREAT CHICKENS |
6. Isolation
Isolation can cause stress in a chicken. Chickens are very social creatures by nature. They like to hang out in flocks, eating, drinking, dust bathing, sunbathing and preening.
This is why it is important to always have more than one chicken. It is highly suggested to get at least 3, just in case one dies that the other is not left alone.
Sometimes we need to isolate a broody chicken or bully chicken by putting them in “chicken jail.”
For a broody hen, place the hen in a cage, but keep the cage in the chicken run so she is able to still see and carry out regular chicken behavior with the rest of the flock.
For a bully chicken, the idea is to “knock them down a few notches” so it is not as aggressive. In this situation, the chicken does need to be totally isolated from the other chickens.
Signs of Stress Due to Isolation
| SIGNS OF STRESS DUE TO CHICKEN ISOLATION |
|---|
| PALE COMB AND WATTLE |
| LACK OF REGULAR “CHICKEN BEHAVIOR” |
| WITHDRAWN |
| STOPS LAYING EGGS OR DECREASED EGG PRODUCTION |
Solutions to Stress Due to Isolation
| SOLUTIONS TO STRESS DUE TO CHICKEN ISOLATION |
|---|
| ALWAYS HAVE MORE THAN ONE CHICKEN |
| ISOLATE BROODY HEN IN CRATE INSIDE CHICKEN RUN |
| BREAK BROODINESS |
7. Brooding, Raising Baby Chicks
A hen that is broody, trying to hatch a clutch of eggs, is under a lot of stress. It takes a lot of hard work to incubate and protect her developing chicks for 3 weeks.
A hen that is brooding eggs will eat, drink, poop and interact with the rest of the flock very little. This is very stressful on her body. This is why it is important, if the plan is not to hatch a clutch of chicks or if the eggs are infertile, that you break her from her broodiness.
Raising chicks is also very stressful for a mother hen. She will do everything possible to protect her baby chicks. She is responsible for their safety and making sure they are fed and well hydrated.
Signs of Stress Due to Brooding or Raising Baby Chicks
| SIGNS OF STRESS DUE TO BROODING OR RAISING BABY CHICKS |
|---|
| PALE COMB AND WATTLE |
| BROODINESS |
| DOESN’T LEAVE CLUTCH OF EGGS OFTEN |
| DECREASED EATING |
| DECREASED DRINKING |
| INCREASED AGGRESSIVENESS |
| PLUCKING OF FEATHERS ON BREAST TO KEEP EGGS AND CHICKS WARM |
| COMB FLOPPED OVER |
| VERY LARGE, INFREQUENT POOPS |
Solutions to Stress Due to Brooding and Raising Chicks
| SOLUTIONS TO DECREASE STRESS DUE TO BROODING AND RAISING CHICKS |
|---|
| REMOVE BROODY HEN FROM EGGS IF INFERTILE |
| REMOVE BROODY HEN FROM EGGS IF YOU DON’T WANT CHICKS |
| SET HEN UP IN A PRIVATE AREA SHE CAN HATCH CHICKS |
| PROVIDE EXTRA FOOD AND WATER AREA FOR BABY CHICKS |
8. Cramped Housing
When chickens are not given enough room to move around, this limits their ability to carry out innate chicken behavior, including pecking and scratching the ground for food, dust bathing and preening in groups. Due to cramped conditions, chickens are often living in unsanitary conditions.
Signs of Stress Due to Cramped Housing
| SIGNS OF STRESS DUE TO CRAMPED CHICKEN HOUSING |
|---|
| PALE COMB AND WATTLE |
| PRONE TO VARIOUS CHICKEN ILLNESSES |
| PRONE TO PARASITES |
| DIARRHEA |
| AGGRESSIVENESS |
| LOSS OF FEATHERS DUE TO PECKING |
Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Cramped Housing
| SOLUTION TO DECREASE STRESS DUE TO CRAMPED CHICKEN HOUSEING |
|---|
| INCREASE COOP SIZE |
| LET FREE RANGE |
| MAINTAIN COOP CLEANING |
| PROVIDE MORE DUST BATHING SPOTS |
| PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ROOSTING BARS |
| PROVIDE 1 ROOSTING BOX PER 4 HENS |
“All poultry requires a minimum amount of square feet in coops, runs and cages that increases with age to maintain health and to prevent social problems. They also require a certain amount of space at feeders and waterers.”
Colorado State University: Brooding and Space Requirements for Poultry
9. Lack of Sunshine
Signs of Stress Due to Lack of Sunshine
Chickens that are cooped up 24/7 and not exposed to sunshine experience a lot more stress. Chickens that are in battery cages for the sole purpose of producing eggs do not receive any vitamin D, are not able to eat fresh bugs and greens.
They will therefore produce eggs that are of lower quality, lower nutritional value and lay less often. Chickens that are exposed to sunshine are much happier because they are able to carry out natural chicken behavior.
| SIGNS OF STRESS DUE TO LACK OF SUNSHINE |
|---|
| PALE COMB AND WATTLE |
| LAYS EGGS OF DECREASED NUTRITIONAL VALUE |
| LAYS LESS FREQUENTLY |
| MORE AGGRESSIVE |
| FEATHER PLUCKING |
| UNHAPPY DISPOSITION |
Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Lack of Sunshine
| SOLUTIONS TO DECREASE STRESS DUE TO LACK OF SUNSHINE |
|---|
| ALLOW CHICKENS TO FREE RANGE |
| HAVE PART OF THE COOP OPEN TO SUNSHINE |
| USE FULL SPECTRUM LIGHT BULBS FOR LIGHTING |
10. Illness-Parasites
It is important to catch chicken illnesses and parasites early on so it doesn’t result in additional health issues. Chickens that are ill or have parasites are experiencing increased stress, not at their best and are more vulnerable to being bullied and attacked by other flock mates. (Survival of the fittest.)
Keeping the chicken coop clean and free of rodents is the number one way to keep the chances of chicken illnesses and parasites down.
Signs of Stress Due to Illness or Parasites
| SIGNS OF INCREASED STRESS DUE TO CHICKEN ILLNESSES OR PARASITES |
|---|
| PALE COMB AND WATTLE |
| WITHDRAWAL FROM THE REST OF THE FLOCK |
| DECREASED APPETITE |
| DIARRHEA |
| MAY STOP LAYING EGGS |
| MISSHAPEN EGGS |
Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Illness or Parasites
| SOLUTIONS TO DECREASE STRESS DUE TO CHICKEN ILLNESSES OR PARSITES |
|---|
| KEEP CHICKEN COOP CLEAN |
| DON’T OVERCROWD |
| FEED PROPER DIET |
| RODENT PROOF CHICKEN COOP |
| DON’T LEAVE FEED OUT AT NIGHT- THIS WILL ATTRACT RODENTS |
| USE HERBS IN THE NESTING BOXES THAT WILL DETER INSECTS, PARASITES AND RODENTS |
| PLANT SHRUBS BESIDE CHICKEN COOP THAT DETER INSECTS, PARASITES AND RODENTS |
| REDUCE CLUTTER BY CHICKEN COOP |
| LOCATE COMPOST PILE AWAY FROM COOP |
11. Injury
Injured chickens need to be identified and isolated early so they do not become bullied and injured more by other flock members.
Chickens sense each others weakness and will bully and peck an injured chicken. This is innate chicken behavior to get rid of the weakest link. An injured chicken is thought of as a threat to the flock because predators can smell their blood.
Signs of Stress Due to Injury
| SIGNS OF STRESS DUE TO INJURY |
|---|
| PALE COMB AND WATTLE |
| WITHDRAWAL FROM REST OF THE FLOCK |
| LACK OF APPETITE |
| BULLIED BY OTHER FLOCK MEMBERS |
| MISSING FEATHERS |
| DOESN’T MOVE NORMAL |
Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Injury
| SOLUTIONS TO DECREASE STRESS DUE TO CHICKEN INJURIES |
|---|
| DAILY OBSERVATION OF FLOCK TO CHECK FOR INJURIES |
| TREAT INJURED CHICKEN |
| REMOVE INJURED CHICKEN AND ISOLATE INSIDE RUN |
| KEEP CHICKEN FIRST AID SUPPLIES ON HAND |
| KNOW WHERE CLOSEST CHICKEN VET IS |
12. Being Bullied
Bullying is quite common within flocks, BUT once the flock figures out the “pecking order” things should settle down. It should be addressed if it gets out of hand, especially if there is any bloodshed. Bullying is common when combining new flocks, a chicken dies or there has been a change in the environment (like due to a move).
Signs of Stress Due to Being Bullied
| SIGNS OF STRESS DUE TO BEING BULLIED |
|---|
| PALE COMB AND WATTLE |
| LOSS OF FEATHERS |
| BLEEDING |
| INJURY |
| WITHDRAWAL FROM REST OF FLOCK |
| DECREASE IN EGG LAYING |
| DEATH IF NOT ADDRESSED |
Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Being Bullied
| SOLUTIONS TO DECREASE STRESS DUE TO BEING BULLIED |
|---|
| KEEP AN EYE ON AGGRESSION WITHIN THE FLOCK |
| REMOVE BULLY HEN AND ISOLATE IN “CHICKEN JAIL” |
| INTEGRATE EQUAL SIZE FLOCKS ONLY |
| GRADUALLY INTRODUCE NEW FLOCK MEMBERS |
13. Molting
Molting first occurs around 18 months of age and then 1-2 times a year in chickens and involves the losing and replacement of its feathers. Most chickens will molt at the end of summer. It is how they prepare for the cold winter months. New feathers are more equipped to trap warm air that is generated from their body.
Molting is very stressful and can be painful for a chicken. They require a lot of energy to grow in a new, full, healthy set of feathers.
Signs of Stress Due to Molting
| SIGNS OF STRESS DUE TO MOLTING |
|---|
| PALE COMB AND WATTLE |
| LOSS OF FEATHERS |
| FEATHERS ALL OVER THE COOP |
| DECREASE IN APPETITE |
| STOPS LAYING EGGS |
| STOPS EATING CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS |
Solutions to Decrease Stress Due to Molting
| SOLUTIONS TO DECREASE STRESS DUE TO MOLTING |
|---|
| PROVIDE INCREASED PROTEIN TREATS- FEATHERS ARE 85% PROTEIN |
| DON’T ADD ANY ADDITIONAL STRESSORS TO THEM |
| DON’T PICK THEM UP- IT HURTS! |
| DON’T PUT CLOTHES ON THEM-IT HURTS! |
| SEPARATE ROOSTERS FROM HENS-NO MATING |
Conclusion: 13 Important Reasons Why Chickens Get Stressed (Signs+Solutions)
There are so many reasons why chickens get stressed:
- Environmental changes
- Innate needs of chickens are not being met
- Suffering from injury
- Suffering from illness or parasites
- Predators
These can affect them both behaviorally and physiologically.
Be observant of your flock so you are able to identify the stressors and act quickly upon it. This way it is less likely to affect their health and well-being.
