So--cold weather coming tomorrow night after a lot of rain. Wind chills expected to be at 0. Over half my chickens roost in trees. The ones in the coop should be okay(I guess?)--out of the wind and rain, can bunch together for warmth. Plenty space for more in the coop, but the ones that prefer the tree rarely move. They worry me because they will be wet from the rain just before the temps drop.
There are 3-sided places they can shelter, but I have never seen them choose to do so. I put up stepladders on the back porch (beside their roosting tree), hoping they would roost on the ladders. And there is space in a very large doghouse where they sometimes go to hide from the hawk.
My wounded fighter is in a crate with straw bedding on the front porch. I have his crate covered, and I will add some more layers to that. I saw him drinking water today for the first time since Tuesday. He also seemed to be trying to snooze with his head under his wing, rather than letting his head hang down like a cow. And his breath isn't rattling any more. I don't know what will become of him, but I feel more hopeful than I have all week.
There are 3-sided places they can shelter, but I have never seen them choose to do so. I put up stepladders on the back porch (beside their roosting tree), hoping they would roost on the ladders. And there is space in a very large doghouse where they sometimes go to hide from the hawk.
My wounded fighter is in a crate with straw bedding on the front porch. I have his crate covered, and I will add some more layers to that. I saw him drinking water today for the first time since Tuesday. He also seemed to be trying to snooze with his head under his wing, rather than letting his head hang down like a cow. And his breath isn't rattling any more. I don't know what will become of him, but I feel more hopeful than I have all week.
