Are chickens weird about things being moved around in their coop?

[LAS1315]

Hi! I have 6 hens and plan on getting more in the spring. I'm hoping to put my brooder box in the coop. Do chickens typically handle the rearranging of their house ok? I'll need to move my nesting boxes and probably change how my roosts are set up.

 

[azygous]

Chickens do not entertain change with glee and excitement. But they get used to it, anyway. If it's possible, try not to change everything all at once. Small increments of change are better tolerated.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Hi! I have 6 hens and plan on getting more in the spring. I'm hoping to put my brooder box in the coop. Do chickens typically handle the rearranging of their house ok? I'll need to move my nesting boxes and probably change how my roosts are set up.

If you do it when the birds are out of the coop,then they probably won't really mind, especially after the first night

 

[AntiqueB]

Mine used to get upset, but I move things around so often now, they're more curious than anything else. It's amazing how a stump in one corner is boring, but becomes exciting when moved to another corner.

The only things I tend not to mess with too much are food, water, grit, and oyster shell. I want all the girls to be certain of where those are.

 

[Sic]

They really don't like change and can freak out over something you might think is trivial but they'll get over it!

 

[Bawkbok]

I can confirm what Azygous said. I rearranged all the furniture in their run a while back and they were like "what?" The biggest change was a favorite tree branch that spans the length -almost 12 feet- was moved to the opposite side. They didn't adjust well even after a few days, so I moved it back. They settled right back into normal behavior after that.
Other changes that are more permanent seemed to take them about a week to adjust to - like the veranda we added to the exterior of the coop.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi! I have 6 hens and plan on getting more in the spring. I'm hoping to put my brooder box in the coop. Do chickens typically handle the rearranging of their house ok? I'll need to move my nesting boxes and probably change how my roosts are set up.

Chickens sometimes do not handle change very well. It might confuse them, it may even frighten them some. But they are also very adaptive. They tend to get over it quickly.

An example: When mine wake up to a white world (it snowed overnight) they usually avoid it, will not go out in it. But within a couple of days some are going out to explore. It is no longer a big deal. If it snows during the day when they are outside they ignore snow. Even if the world goes white in less than an hour that is gradual enough that it does not bother mine.

I've been there and done that. Added a 3' x 6' brooder and rearranged the roosts. It did not bother them. I don't know how yours will react but shortly they will adjust and handle it.