Does cold weather make chickens miserable?

[SuzyB]

Have gone out this morning and my 8 week old Blackrock is looking a little miserable. Ive checked her over, nothing obviously wrong but she's not her normal self and her tail is down. She's eaten some warm mash but definitely looks miserable today.

Its particularly cold here this morning, do you think sometimes they just have an off day or should I be looking at something else that could be wrong? Any advice gladly received.

[MaureenHall]

Are the others looking ok?

[Snadger]

As chickens were originally bred from jungle fowl I don't think they particularily relish cold and damp together?

[SuzyB]

All other are ok. The other 8 week old is absolutely fine - albeit going through an identity crisis, she thinks she's a parrot.

[RichmondHens]

Are they home hatched or bought in? Have they been wormed yet? If it is particularly cold in your area then maybe she is feeling it, but I would expect it to affect others too if they are all the same age. 8 weeks is not particularly old and they could get chilly at this time of year. I would say just keep an eye on her for the moment but if she continues to look poorly then get someone to take a look at her.

If you have somewhere warm to isolate her then I would do that. You can then see what her poo is like and get some idea of how much she is eating/drinking. I have had the odd one or two go off colour from time to time with no real explanation why and I have a "hospital cage" set up in a stable that they get shipped off to, for observation, and then treatment if necessary. They can they return to the flock when recovered.

[SuzyB]

They were brought in at 5 weeks, had no problems until now. She looked a little brighter this evening. She's eating and drinking but her poo is runny. Could she perhaps have over induldged in the garden? Ive only just starting letting them free range with the big girls in the garden, until recently they've stayed in their run til the other girls had got used to them being around.

One other question I have is that neither of the littlies seem to remember where to go to bed. They walk out of the run into the garden themselves but at night when the big girls go into their house, instead of going back to their own house, I go out to find them sat on top of the plastic grow house (about 6 foot tall) by my patio doors. At first I thought they were trying to figure out how to get in as the grow house is between the back doors and kitchen window as I'd been bringing them in for a bit each evening to get them used to being handled. The speckledy especially first found her way onto the patio table and kept looking at the window as if she thought she could fly through. Now I just think they are finding somewhere high to roost because they cant remember where to go, even though the garden isnt that big. Any ideas on how to remind them where to go at bedtime??

[bluemoon]

Ours do not seem to be badly affected by the cold, they didn't like the heat on that one afternoon it got hot back in June, but cold and rain doesn't seem to bother them at all. Though I admit that might change in a month or two when we've had weeks and weeks of it rather than the odd day. A vet did once tell me that you're far more likely to lose an animal to heat stroke than cold in this country.

[RichmondHens]

I take it they are in separate houses, the little ones and big ones? If so, just shutting them up again for a day or two in their own house may be all it takes. If they are sharing a house then they may be being kept out by the big ones. Also check their house for mite, in case they don't want to go back in because of that.

[Nicos]

How is she this morning???

[SuzyB]

She's perkier than yesterday, ran out of the house into the run this morning, but I still think she's not quite herself. Will keep an eye on her.

Yes Richmond, the biggies have a house, which Im battling with red mite in but seem to be winning and it doesnt affect them going to bed.

The littllies are currently in the shed til they are bigger and can then go in with the other. Ive a huge dog cage that butts up to a pop hole that leads to the run outside, just to keep them contained in one area as the shed is still full of all sorts until I can clear it. From last week they were allowed into the garden to free range with the biggies to see how things went between them and all was well. I let them walk out themselves into the garden but they just dont seem to be able to find their way back.

Im keeping them both in the run for the moment anyway, just until Lily gets back to full health. I didnt have this with the others, they knew from day one where to go to bed!

[RichmondHens]

They may just be getting distracted by the older hens going into their house, and then it becomes too dark for the little ones to get back on their own. If they were raised under a lamp rather than a hen, they won't have had a mum to guide and teach them, so it may take them a bit longer to work out what's what.