The chickens are unhappy. This cold is hard on them. My flock is old so less tolerant of the weather and being confined in the run and the two coops. I have created chicken tunnels that I use when it gets warm. We have far too many foxes in the area. I used to let them free range till we lost eight in less than an hour. Fox will continue to kill and pile up the bodies so long as there are birds they can get to. We had just been outside, went in for dinner, came out and feathers were everywhere. My heart stopped, devastating sight.
My husband and I had to find those still in hiding and get them in the coop. We found one girl pressed up against the body of her buddy. People think chickens are without personalities and just stupid things. I know better. My flock is filled with smart girls. The rooster is amazing. I have seen that boy sound the danger alarm and run out in the yard to draw the attention of a hawk so his girls could get to safety.
My girls don’t really lay any more, they are retired. I get the odd egg every few days. For the most part they just eat and take dust baths and relax. I have one girl that turned into a rooster. I was shocked to hear her crow. Then her feathers and body shape changed. I looked it up and it happens, not often, but it does. She gets along great with the other rooster cuz she was one of his favorites. Who knew? Girls really can do it all.
May you always have someone to warn you of danger.
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