I lost my little Seabright Male on Friday. I am letting them out late anyway now, around lunch time in the hope that they keep warm in their numbers. The little Seabright got knocked into a huge puddle in the rush. I saw it happen, and he got up and ruffled his feathers and went on his way, but after about an hour, as I was tending the to the rabbits, I noticed him hunched on his own, just stook there, no one with him in the open. I picked him up and he went limp. Tucked him down inside my coat and made him a box in a cage in the trusted warm bathroom, but by the end of the day he had died. The cold just got to him, it was so sad.
The others seem to be coping ok, although the fancies, expecially the Polish ones worry me a bit because thier feathers on their heads are always wet. There is plenty of shelter around, but there are the few that want to walk around regardless.
Should I separate the fancies off and keep them in all of the time during the winter? My chooks don't have runs, they live in a large hen house together at night and are free range all day long, although as I said I have shortened their days out now.
Your input would be appreciated.
Kate