Chickens acting weird

[RanDen063095]

When I open the door to my hen house they all come out into the chicken yard for about 2 hrs. Then for whatever reason I have not yet been able to determine they all go back inside the co-op & stay for hours. My hens are not paying like they were. With 6 that are laying I am getting about 2 eggs a day. I dont know what is going on with them. Any ideas?

 

[staceyj]

Broody behavior?
Are they roosting or just camped out in the nesting boxes?

 

[poultry person]

When I open the door to my hen house they all come out into the chicken yard for about 2 hrs. Then for whatever reason I have not yet been able to determine they all go back inside the co-op & stay for hours. My hens are not paying like they were. With 6 that are laying I am getting about 2 eggs a day. I dont know what is going on with them. Any ideas?

make sure they are all eating and drinking, and what is the weather like where you are?

 

[Embalmergirl]

Maybe they need a change of scenery to perk them up. Sometimes they can get a little bored with the same thing day after day.

 

[Stephine]

Where are you, what is the weather like, how long are the days right now? How soon after the sun is up do you let them out of the coop?
It is normal for them to go in for a midday nap, but if they don't come out again later that's truly odd.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Hawks hanging about?

 

[Stephine]

Hawks hanging about?

Good point - I think it's migration season for them.

 

[21hens-incharge]

We had a screaming bout yesterday evening from ours.
Very odd at 6 pm when they should be winding down.

I went to see what on earth had them so upset.
Bold as brass a juvenile red tail hawk was sitting on the power pole watching the run.

Now mind you my chickens come when called. I called them into the coop and they had an early lock down.

We see tons of hawks here. I mean at least once a day they come through. It always causes a ruckus. If it is a fly over they run for the coop. If it hangs about they scream bloody murder.