Thanks for this post...I needed to hear it. I have a question to add though...can you still do this method if the coop occasionally gets wet in some places? We have a leaky window that I can't do anything with because of cold weather and when it rains, it leaks in a puddle on the floor.
Ie thought I lost a chicken on the 4th, but found her 6 days later. (There was a 3 inch space behind her nesting box and she fell behind. Needless to say, we've fixed that problem) After 6 days in a hot coop with no food and water, she wasn't able to stand or walk. We put her in a dog crate...