Chickens Squishing Together in the Corner of the Pen

[MScott]

About once a day my chickens will huddle or squish together as close as they can get in one corner of the pen. Some chickens appear to be on top of other chickens, but nobody seems to be upset, squawking, or even trying to wiggle free. They stand like that for several minutes, but move apart and will then usually do something like preen themselves. We even observed the one who is usually on the bottom climbing under the other chickens to get on the bottom. She was standing towards the back of the pack when we first spotted her.

It is the weirdest thing I've seen them do. I have no idea why they do this, but none of the hens or the one rooster appear distressed in any way with this.

Anyone else observe their with theirs chickens or have any idea why they do this??

 

[Acre4Me]

How old are they? Is this against a wall or a fence?

 

[WingItRanch]

The only time I've seen this happen with mine is when they hear a noise that scares them.

 

[MScott]

How old are they? Is this against a wall or a fence?

They are a year and they are up against a fence.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I only see them pack up if 1) something upset them and they're all trying to hide in a single area or 2) it's almost breakfast time or free range time, during which they tend to congregate tightly at the gate and stare expectantly at our living room window.

 

[Acre4Me]

They are a year and they are up against a fence.

I’m going with something new (=scary). Since they are a year and laying, they are mature and it’s not typical. However, I have occasionally seen it where a very low ranking chicken will try to get under the dominant chicken (usually a rooster)when scared, but not a pile-on situation.

Maybe a new hawk is nearby wanting to eat them, a new cat is appearing occasionally. Plastic is making sound bc of wind, etc. but sound like they are trying to get as far away from something as they can

 

[aart]

They are a year and they are up against a fence.

Solid fence or a mesh fence?
Have you had them the whole year.....or how long?

 

[PimsGarden]

Be observant of other birds, as mentioned before it could be a hawk nearby watching them. They are sneaky! Luckily at our house we have lots of wild birds that usually scare off the hawks, blackbirds and bluejays are good for that. Bluejays imitate hawk calls sometimes and that will scare my chickens occasionally. Just something to think about!

 

[WaterfowlsPoultry]

When I had hawk attacks regularly the hens would run to the coop and huddle in the corner just as you say. They would be dead silent however.

It may just be a fright thing. Check around for anything that may be scaring them or like noises.

 

[TexasBlues]

Sounds like a dust bath