Chickens appear afraid of new bedding

[rcravey]

My husband cleaned the chicken coop today and put in new bedding. He used the same type of bedding as was in there previously. I just went to check that they all went inside for the night and eight of them (including my rooster) were outside. The other chicks were inside but up on a ledge. None were on the bedding. It took both my husband and myself to get the one's outside back inside. Their coop is very predator proof but we went inside to make sure there wasn't anything in there that was scaring them. Nothing. The only thing we can think of is that they don't like their new bedding. Is this common? Is there anything we can do to make them more comfortable?

 

[aart]

Have had this happen a couple times, once was severe....and rather hilarious.
I think it's the way they look.
What I do now is save out some of the old shavings to spread over the new ones, worked a charm.

 

[CluckerFamily]

You could try cleaning and putting new bedding into the coop in the mornings. That way they have all day to get use to it.
Not sure if this would help, I just put the bedding in a pile and let them scratch it around for me. This way I'm not throwing and moving the bedding.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

My youngest flock is like this. Every single time they act like I've put "death shavings" down when it's the same ole pine shavings. My other flocks don't mind at all. I think it's just one bird that spreads the fear and then they're all freaked out thinking the shavings will kill them. Like another poster mentioned, changing the shavings in the morning or early afternoon makes a difference.

 

[rcravey]

My youngest flock is like this. Every single time they act like I've put "death shavings" down when it's the same ole pine shavings. My other flocks don't mind at all. I think it's just one bird that spreads the fear and then they're all freaked out thinking the shavings will kill them. Like another poster mentioned, changing the shavings in the morning or early afternoon makes a difference.

"Death shavings" LOL. Thank you!

 

[rcravey]

What kind of bedding do you use? Is it the same brand? Does it have a different smell? If you use wood shavings, is it a differ kind of wood for some reason?

Pine shavings. Yes, the same brand. It smells stronger because it is newer. I guess they don't recognize the smell from the last time it was changed?

 

[kerbotx]

Throw some scratch on it! Or bread, or whatever treat they can't resist.

 

[rcravey]

Does your coop have a roost and do the chickens normally use it?

Once they're beyond the little chick stage they aren't really supposed to be sleeping down in the bedding. You want them to be up on the roost so that they aren't laying in their poop all night.

I didn't realize this. We have one large roost but it's only large enough for half of the flock. We have 17 chickens. I will definitely add more roosts. Thank you!

 

[Weeg]

What kind of bedding do you use? Is it the same brand? Does it have a different smell? If you use wood shavings, is it a differ kind of wood for some reason?

 

[Weeg]

Pine shavings. Yes, the same brand. It smells stronger because it is newer. I guess they don't recognize the smell from the last time it was changed?

Could be the smell, that is what I might assume. Have you changed anything else in the coop recently?