DH opened both coops up this morning. When I checked on everyone before I left for work I saw that they had all decided they were staying inside the covered run. That's 7 hens, Miss Whitey Ford, and her brood of 5 chicks. I figured they were all fine. The door was open if they wanted to free range and Whitey doesn't let anyone near her babies.
I worked a full day and went to tuck everyone in for the night. It appears our gloomy weather caught 4 of the hens off guard, as the solar powered auto door was shut and they were sleeping on the ramp outside the coop. Weird. So I picked one up to take her around and put her IN the coop. Opening the door I find Whitey in the big coop with everyone else, on the top roost, with her chicks underneath her, as best as they could anyway since they've gotten so big and it's a balancing act on the roost. One by one, I'm carrying all the girls who'd gotten shut out of the coop back around, then notice that none of them are taking the space on the roost next to Whitey. I guess if the chicks are with her she still has the invisible force field around her no matter where she's decided to sleep for the night.
It's dark now so I'm sure fine for the night but I'll be checking on them first thing in the morning. I just think it's odd how my being at work for a full day and a change in the weather made the routine so different.
All the BYCers that I've met have been fantastic!
