Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[Wild Iris]

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.

 

[Appalachickens]

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.

I don’t have my forest chickens yet, but my coop chickens are in an open air coop. We aren’t forecasted to get really cold weather (single digits) until after the weekend but it’s 31 and sleeting now and I’ve been thinking a lot about how this will work next winter. I’m hoping they’ll take advantage of two shelters.

Hope your wounded rooster is on the mend!

 

[Backroadlogic]

Was 7 here last night. My flock slept in trees. They looked unhappy this morning lol all alive though

 

[LaurenRitz]

I don’t have my forest chickens yet, but my coop chickens are in an open air coop. We aren’t forecasted to get really cold weather (single digits) until after the weekend but it’s 31 and sleeting now and I’ve been thinking a lot about how this will work next winter. I’m hoping they’ll take advantage of two shelters.

Hope your wounded rooster is on the mend!

Last spring I had a trio that insisted on sleeping on top of the coop. Through rain, sleet and snow, they didn't change their minds about their sleeping place.

Funny to wake up to birds covered with snow, but they didn't seem to mind.

 

[Appalachickens]

Last spring I had a trio that insisted on sleeping on top of the coop. Through rain, sleet and snow, they didn't change their minds about their sleeping place.

Funny to wake up to birds covered with snow, but they didn't seem to mind.

That is really good to hear.

 

[Appalachickens]

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.

How big is the doghouse they take cover in?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

My chickens are not impressed with the skating rink that has formed between their coop and the barn. I should have taken a video of the rooster high-stepping around like

 

[LaurenRitz]

My chickens are not impressed with the skating rink that has formed between their coop and the barn. I should have taken a video of the rooster high-stepping around like View attachment 4288434

Mine are demanding to know why I spread that cold, white stuff all over their yard! Their complaints can probably be heard in low earth orbit.

Funny to see all crowded in a three foot wide stripe at the back of the shelter, and the unmarked snow in the rest.

 

[Backroadlogic]

I've not seen mine today, they decided to stay under the house last night. I hear crowing so there's that lol

 

[Appalachickens]

I dumped a bucket of leaves on the snow in the run today. It was covered with the rooster’s footprints, so I figured he might appreciate the insulation.