Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Eggasperated]

Yesterday we had a very cold wind all day, around lunch time it blew up quite strongly and all my girls stood round the side of their house trying to get away from it. Carol, chief feather plucker anyway, then launched a sustained feather plucking and eating binge on the other four. I kept stopping it but then she would start up again - this went on for several hours (in hindsight I should have separated her) with her continually chasing and plucking the others.

 

I don't know why the wind appeared to trigger this unless it was stress from what happened when we had the high wind in January (tree down on top of chicken house) or she was trying to prevent the others from sheltering.

 

Today I sprayed them with Ukadex and checked for any broken skin (none), brought Carol in and examined her (no lice or anything else wrong) and fed her some cat food for extra protein in case that was the problem.

It all seems calm now, both chickens and weather.

 

Anyone any thoughts on this, or same experience; I know if it happens again I shall put her in a separate run but it was all very puzzling and upsetting yesterday .

[lindafw]

MMMMmmmm I just wondered it it was the wind blowing the feathers around..you know chicken mentality...if it moves its food!