Chickens piling on top of each other

[Amyloumomof2]

I went to check on our chickens and they were all piled on each other in a corner, some "crying". One was on the bottom just sitting there letting them all be on her. I got them in the coop hoping that would help, but they are still doing it in the corner of the coop. Am I freaking over nothing. I'm just afraid who ends in the bottom is going to be suffocated

 

[autumnhearth]

How old are they? I've seen my chicks do some piling. Have they been roosting? I really don't have any advice, but hoping this gets bumped up.

 

[Amyloumomof2]

They have not been roosting at all. 6 are almost 3 months old and 4 are 2 1/2 months. I'm trying to research it as I'm new to the chicken thing. Saying some prayers and hoping I'm being paranoid!

 

[PhatChicks]

Mine were doing that sometimes too until I got them into their coop. Is there enough roosting space for them? My guess is that they are fighting over the same spot and until someone decides to move, they will keep doing that.

All 7 of mine tried to roost by the window, fighting over the "best" spot, making a ton of noise and flapping their wings. It took a few nights for them to settles into their positions and now everyone knows where to sleep. In the pictures above, you can kind of see how close Hank is to the plexiglass, his breath is fogging it. They are all mushed in next to and on top of him, trying to wiggle in.

Good luck!

 

[Bayou Chick]

I am also new to chickens, however, I think it's normal. I am under the impression it falls in line with the "Pecking Order" - all the chickens want to be where the "Queen Bee" is laying, regardless of how much space they have. I have 6 that are around 2.5 months old, and they cuddle together every night and walk all over each other during the day. We have a 12 x 20 run for the 6 of them, with the coop built in the middle of it, so I KNOW space is not an issue!! Hope this helps alleviate your fears, but, like I said, I am also new to the chicken thing!

 

[WVDoug]

Don't worry, they'll figure it out soon.

My chicks piled in a corner of the coop until they were about 9-10 weeks old. One night I saw one BO on the roost, the next night another, then for or five. Within about 5 or 6 days, all 18 (BO, BA, RIR, CM) were using the roost at night. This made me happy as it meant they were pooping over the drawer I designed to slide out the side for easy disposal. The corner was getting pretty pooped up!

I wish I knew why they prefer facing the wall rather than facing out into the coop though!

 

[Michael Apple]

The only piling I've dealt with has been with Leghorn type breeds that tend to panic when they go to the grow off pen at about 5 weeks of age, and get accustomed to the coop at night. It is not something to disregard as just normal behavior since young birds can injure/kill each other in this situation for too long. I found the best way is to have a small wattage light in the coop I can turn on and off from the outside of the coop. I turn the light on near dusk before I lock them in, once they are in the coop and calm, I then turn off the light. That worked very well for the piling problem. Once they get familiar with this routine, the light is no longer used.

 

[Amyloumomof2]

Thank you. I will try that. They have only been in their coop for 5 days, but last night was the first time I noticed. I do have a hard time getting them in and they definitely don't go in at night alone. They just get close to the coop.

 

[PhatChicks]

You have to lock them in their coop for at least a week. They have to become comfortable with the space and know that it's their "home". It sucks to not let them out into the run but if you don't keep them in the coop, you'll never get them to go in there by themselves at night. I kept my 7 in their coop from Sunday night until Saturday day. That evening, I needed to put one chicken in the coop at dusk and as soon as the others realized it was getting late, they all just jumped up the ramp making little squawking noises.

During the day, I gave them treats and greens to keep them busy since they were stuck in there all day. Now all 7 of mine march right up into ther coop at 930pm, right on schedule. I go behind them to lock the coop door but they put themselves to bed.

 

[PhatChicks]

And as long as you have natural light through a window, they really don't need an additional light. I know some people do put one in the coop but it's not necessary. They will sense the time when it's time for bed so you don't need extra light (at least in the summer). Just keep them locked in there for a week or so and they'll be fine. Good luck!