Winter depression?

[Cottage Goblin]

The past week my hens have been acting strange. They move around less, eat and drink less, and just seem sad and off. It has been a California cold winter (down to 20°f) which is much colder than usual here. They have all experience multiple winters but never acted like this. I'm not sure if this is normal or if I should be worried.

 

[The Chick Addict]

I'm not sure... I was also wondering that. A few of my girls are acting like that...

 

[rosemarythyme]

I find my birds eat less and are less active during the shorter, colder, overcast days of late fall and winter.

 

[Solanacae]

Think about it this way. A wild bird will hunker down and conserve energy on the most unpleasant days. I think what you are seeing is something similar, and not unlike how I want to curl up with a good book and not do anything in a cold and/or rainy day. I don’t think I’d call it depression though.