Chickens appear afraid of new bedding

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.

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.
 
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.
I had this happen to me yesterday.

They would not go in the coop. They would look in, screech and run away. It was quite funny.

After a couple of hours when I could see they were considering alternatives, I had to pick them up and put them in. The first one kept running out so I had to close the door each time I put one in.

It is mid-day the next day and they are still on their roosts. I even threw some bread down this morning and no one was interested.
 
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.

Thank you. Will definitely do that next time.
 

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