Update:
On Rocky:
Today has been crazy warm after this cold stretch we just had. Because of the warmth, I figured it would be good to separate Rocky, with no fear of it being too cold for her. I took her saddle off and put her in a cage by herself. She seemed fine with that at first, until she wanted out. She started pacing and getting her frostbitten comb caught on the bars.
I moved her cage to a different spot in the coop where I could easily block off the outside, so she couldn't see out. That would be better for her comb, and stop her from pacing. Due to her having so many painful pin feathers, she actually is ok being by herself. The other hens kept running into them, pecking them, and everything. She even got a couple of them broke.
Here's Rocky's setup:
I also put a perch in there for her, and she was roosting on it. I think she's going to be ok now. I hope it doesn't get cold enough that I have to put her back with her flock. I want to see her feathers come in first.
On the other birds:
This morning I let them out to their big run, and lead them to a feeding spot. Unfortunately, all the food was gone. The flock still wanted to hang out there anyways. The squirrels cleared the spot getting to the food, so that was still good.
Come this afternoon, I let the birds out to free-range while I worked on moving Rocky's cage. After Rocky was all settled in, I lead the flock on what was a long walk to them. There is a spot that the snow has melted off of, and there's some grass. This is where I was leading the flock. While I was giving the flock a break, I picked up Princess who was being slow, and brought her to the spot.
After the flock's break, I lead them to that spot. Shiloh spotted Princess first, and knew they were coming up upon something good. Jewels wanted to go the wrong way, but I was able to stop her. Soon I got the flock to where they were supposed to go, and they realized it was paradise. As they foraged and took dust-baths, I worked on clearing the spot better of small trees. Beth occasionally tried helping me.
After my lunch, which Beth begged for and got a couple of bites of, I got out my camera to take pictures of them. Some people walked by, and I brought Maisy over for them to see up close. She wasn't happy about that but wanted to go back to foraging. After that slight distraction, I went back to the flock with Maisy.
I wanted to take this certain picture of one of my hens. I tried getting Shiloh, but she didn't want to, so I picked Princess instead. I picked her up and found Nightfall a little too close. He didn't attack, but he acted like that was on his mind. I brought Princess to the log I wanted to take pictures of her on and got a couple of good pictures of her.
The once terrified of snow, Nightfall, figured Princess still needed to be rescued, so he went through the snow to her. Once he realized she was safe, he decided to take the flock on an adventure. First, he took the flock up and down an icy trail. Then, he took the whole flock through deep snow on a long way.
I was shocked this trip he took the flock on, especially through the deep snow, but after several minutes, he got MOST of the flock back to the coop. Princess, Penny, and Jewels got discouraged on the last 10 or so feet of deep snow. I went to their rescue, and one at a time, I gently threw them towards the coop. They easily flew the rest of the way back. (They prefer to fly than me carry them. Most chickens don't like being held, especially Jewels.)
My flock had quite the day. But I think they enjoyed it all except for the crazy adventure Nightfall decided to take them on.
Here is some pictures I took of them today:
~Lacy Duckwing
Tonight, there was three of Rocky's feathers under her perch tonight, so I'm being hopeful for a molt... She might be molting, but maybe she's doing a soft molt which will take 6 months. Nightfall was on the bottom perch with Beth tonight, so she wasn't all alone. Shiloh was creeped out by my pink mittens, and I had to straighten out Aundria's saddle. She works all day, everyday, trying to get it off, so I'm always finding it out of place. I got three eggs tonight: An Aundria egg, a Shiloh egg, and a Beth egg. They wasn't frozen, thankfully, but my heated waterer had some ice on it.
