Are my chickens playing tricks?

[WIchickMama]

Starting yesterday and then again today, my chickens have been hanging out in their coop and barely coming out to the run. Are they out there when I am not?and I just "think" they spend all day in there. They all did come out this morning for a short bit-all drank and some grabbed a bit to eat. Went back out just now and they were all hanging out in their coop-literally laying on the floor and just hanging out.

I don't think/know if we have any predators that could have spooked them-we do have a cat that hangs out in the barn and visits the farm across the street too but I haven't seen it by the coop. I don't have a camera-that is on my list today. I don't think we have any snakes that would go after them in Western WI, but I am not up to snuff on my snakes.

I clean out the poop in the coop and freshen nesting boxes daily. I just raked out the run to get out extra junk and put some fresh sand in the dirt hole they dug.

I don't know what else to do. Give them time? Will they come out to eat and drink if they are hungry/thirsty? It will be around 90 today. Poop looked normal this morning. They seem "happy" I guess?!

I did put up some CDs for entertainment yesterday but that was after they started staying inside. Up until yesterday they were out and about when we would come outside-not always all of them but a majority. Here is a picture of the run/coop and a few that were out but stayed by their pop up door. (cinder blocks are by 2 gaps due to ground having a dip). Run is covered

 

[sourland]

It sounds like the usual reaction to the presence of a predator.

 

[WIchickMama]

so will they come out to eat and drink or do I need to give them something? also what can I do to make them feel safe again or will it just take time?

I checked the hardware cloth and all is well, also no signs of digging

Game camera it is!

 

[RubelliteRose]

How old are your chickens? My group last year started doing the same thing around 4 or 5 months old I think. They would all just go into the coop and hang out for several hours or until we let them out to free range. We used to call it the morning meeting. The meetings eventually stopped for the older girls, but the group we got this spring is doing the same thing

 

[WIchickMama]

How old are your chickens? My group last year started doing the same thing around 4 or 5 months old I think. They would all just go into the coop and hang out for several hours or until we let them out to free range. We used to call it the morning meeting. The meetings eventually stopped for the older girls, but the group we got this spring is doing the same thing

they were 21 weeks yesterday. I haven't heard any squawking or screaming like something is bothering them. But I don't know. I was also thinking maybe bc we are moving into fall there is something in the air. OR I am overthinking it, like I did when my girls were newborns?

Hubby said get a baby monitor and camera. so I guess I can start there. I hate spending unneeded money though if they are just 'going through a phase'

anything that can be put around the outside of the run to deter predators?

 

[RubelliteRose]

If you haven't heard them, then they may just feel like hanging out in the coop. We bought an inexpensive trail cam just for piece of mind due to neighbors loosing birds to raccoons, but have never caught anything on it except us and a single deer. I think one of the best deterants is a secure coop and run (our neighbor's was not secure). Also spending time in and around the coop seems to help for us. Our coop is somewhat close to the house so we spend lots of time around it. Our neighbor's coop is near the back half of their property so they don't go out there as much.

 

[WIchickMama]

I will try and go out a little more. They did come out when I moved their food earlier

 

[GC-Raptor]

They did come out when I moved their food earlier

Are they eating? I don't see any near the feeder.

How do you keep the feed from getting wet when it rains? It looks close to the wall of pen in pictures.
Do you let the feeder get nearly empty to clean and refill with fresh feed at least monthly?
If you don't, check the feeder. Look for clumping or mold inside. Smell the feed.

Feed will clump together in my humid continental climate during rainy or cool damp conditions and I let the feeders get nearly empty weekly and check inside feeder and move feed away from center before refilling.
I keep my feeders inside coops to keep them out of the rain.

GC

 

[WIchickMama]

I just cleaned it out and put in fresh yesterday, and I have only had them less than 2 weeks. We haven't had any rain, so that hasn't been a problem. I can see where it could be though. I can easily move the feed into the coop IF needed and in the winter but I didn't want to keep it in the coop.

Do they need feed in their coop? If I put the food in, do I need to put water in too?

Also, could the CDs that I hung in the coop yesterday be an issue, just a new thing that they need to figure out?


**update, I just went to check the food--no clumping, no mold, smelled like chicken pellets! All but 3 were out--but one is laying I believe (my trusty White Leghorn), scratching, drinking and sunbathing

 

[GC-Raptor]

Do they need feed in their coop? If I put the food in, do I need to put water in too?

They don't eat or drink when it's dark so you can remove feeder from coop after sunset, unless your coop has lights, then remove when lights are out.
Water in pen is fine as long as they can access during daylight.
My coops are predator and rodent proof when I close pop-door at sunset so I keep feed and water inside 24/7.

could the CDs that I hung in the coop yesterday be an issue, just a new thing that they need to figure out?

Possibly, chickens notice changes and it may take a day or two before they feel comfortable or not.
Reflections can freak them out. GC