Chickens and winter

[BroodyMama1]

our flock of 8 did great last winter. No problems no deaths. In the spring we added 6 more to the group. They are well migrated together. This winter they seem to have forgotten how to winter. The other week my husband went out to collect eggs and check on the, he dose this about 8pm or so when all of them are in for the night. He found on of the out side of the coop huddled up and a little frosty. So he got her all good and situated and she’s fine. Hasn’t done it since. This one one of the ones from the first flock. So she has been through a winter already. The other night he goes out everyone is in, accounted for and snuggled up. He goes out in the morning to let them out and one of them left the coop in the middle of the night, went behind their food bin and died. We have not noticed any health problems and think it was the cold that got her. But why would she leave the coop in the middle of the night and stay out long enough to freeze? Why would she not go back in?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your chicken more than likely died from something other than the cold. Did you check her over for marks? Is your coop open at night?

I've had chickens sleep alone, they never just freeze to death.

There must have been an underlying problem or it was frightened in the middle of the night.

Rats and mice can frighten chickens at night and cause them to fly off the roosts, and potentially wander because they can't see well. Predators sniffing around the outside of the coop can cause the same problems.

Most dying birds seek out a quiet corner as sometimes other birds will attack an odd acting bird.

 

[Criticalicious]

How did the one get out of the coop if it is was closed for the night? Do you leave it open? I'd more inclined to suspect predator before cold, and if it was a predator, it will be back.

 

[PirateGirl]

I agree, there is a reason she left the coop. A predator (real or she imagined one), illness, other birds picking on her at roost. Maybe roost space (or the favorite roost space) is tight now and they have to fight for it.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I’m so sorry for your loss!

 

[BroodyMama1]

She was a banta. She snuggled up under my light Brahma every night. When I mean closed the coop it has an outside run so we close the run but keep the door open for them in the morning. No preditors. If we don’t the head chicken gets pecky.