Football Huddle?

No. Just 13 Chickens huddling.

We've been letting the chickens out every day that the wind isn't too gusty. The chickens really seem to enjoy it and do their normal chicken things. But once the sun starts to go down, it gets really cold and the chickens gather together in a huddle.

Usually I get too worried when it's starts getting cold and run about scooping up chickens and placing them back in their house. Most of the chickens don't give me any trouble and just stand still and let me pick them up. Only a few make me run a bit.
So, I don't mind helping my chickens get into their henhouse, but I also think that chickens should be able to do that on their own, without human intervention. They've been doing it for more than a hundred years, right?
So today, I wanted to give them a chance to figure it out themselves that they could go into their house to get warm and cozy.

Unfortunately, the experiment bombed.

After dinner we all 'clucked' at the sad bundle of chickens pressed up tightly against the coop gate. Several chickens were smushed cozily down at the bottom of the huddle, while several others tried desperately to wedge themselves tightly into the feathery bundle.

But none of them had made their way up the ramp into their nice, warm, cozy house. They must feel safe at the gate. Possibly understanding that is where I come through with their food, treats, petting and water.

Well, bummer.

I wasn't sure how'd they react to me just walking up and carrying each of them into the house, but they completely took me by surprise when not one of them ran away from me, even as I scooped up each chicken one at a time and came back for one more...13 times.

After they were all tucked safely inside their house for the night, they busily devoured the leftover waffles and scrambled eggs I laid out for them.

So, in the end, I'd really like it if my chickens could figure out how to make their own way into their house, and hopefully they will, sooner rather than later, but if our chickens aren't doing it, at least their making my job easier. Just call me "Chicken Taxi~Air Express"


Amazing to think that 13 chickens are in this pile of feathers.
Three of the chickens are squashed on the bottom, and not minding it one bit. I imagine that it felt like they were covered with a down blanket.
Chickens in a huddle, with the henhouse chicken door in the background, only 5 feet away