517heather
In the Brooder
I have a question that I couldn't quite find the answer to. I have 6 chickens - females, that I think are between 3 and 4 months (I can't remember exactly when we got the chicks) they're all seemingly healthy and happy. We moved them outside to their coop a few weeks ago as soon as the weather was warm enough and they adjusted beautifully. After a week we started letting them out to forage for a few hours every evening and they did great about going back in the coop and up into the enclosed area to be locked in for the night all by themselves which worked great because it still gets cold here at night (in the 40's tonight). Their coop is the type that has an elevated enclosed area with 2 low roosts and 3 nesting boxes and a ramp going down to a tall fenced run area with a few bars for roosting on. The problem: they started sleeping up high on the highest roost in the open area. The first night I put them all in the enclosed area myself, but the last few nights I've let them do what they want. I'm concerned they're not as warm and safe in the outer area. Not sure what's going on here and why they would choose to all be squished together in the cold air on one roosting bar. Their coop is clean and dry and they have food and water in both places. Thanks for any insight