Chickens suddenly not perching

[Chicken Love]

I wonder if chickens will roost on the floor of the coop when it's warm out? You know, the whole heat rises thing. Our girls quit laying for a couple of days last week during a bit of a heat wave (35C+), and tonight none of them are on the perches, all are on the floor. Rooster included. I was with them several times today; everyone is laying like usual, no other unusual behavior. Any thoughts?

 

[Darklingstorm]

It could be cooler on the floor then up higher. Especially if they are close together on the roost.

I live in Oklahoma and its pretty hot here, so I added a fan outside of the coop pointing in to cause a nice breeze for them. I've actually caught my girls inside the coop during the day just standing around in the air flow.

 

[Chicken Love]

so you don't think it's a worry then? It's supposed to drop to 16C on Monday so that should give them some relief.

 

[Darklingstorm]

if it was just one I would say watch that one closely but since it the whole flock, I would guess you are right and they could be hot.
I would still keep an eye on them and see if they still do it when it cools off.

Might try adding a fan pointed at the roost and turn it to medium, not too high or they won't like the wind. I use a cheap box fan and have it pointing through a vent window.

 

[jillscoop]

You might want to put a thermometer near the floor and another near the roost to check the temperature difference. I've noticed most of our girls hanging out on lower roosts near the window in the summer. In the winter they will jockey for who can get up in the rafters. Is there plenty of ventilation? you could add a large window with rabbit wire screen instead of glass and put shutters on it so it can be closed in the winter. One of the farms near us lost chickens from the their coop staying too hot.

 

[Mac14]

My chickens mostly sleep on the floor all together with a few on the roosts, ya just might be the heat.

 

[Chicken Love]

Hmm. Might be the heat but was not that warm out this evening and they were all still on the floor. No, there's not a huge amount of ventilation, though I do keep the "people door" open all day long. Another thought -- we've had a couple of doozy storms lately and the huge raindrops on the roof can be really loud. Could the sound have scared them all? If so, is it a time thing or do I need to actually do something to get them perching again?
Thanks for any input!

 

[Chicken Love]

They are still not perching!?! Anyone??
I tried to get them to perch by putting them on the perches tonight after they went into the coop, but they just jumped off. Weird.

Could it be bugs? I have found the past few days when I come back from the coop, it feels like I have little things crawling on me. Egg production is down slightly too.
What is seven dust? Or sevin? Is there something natural I can use, like wood ashes or baking soda or something? Would lime work, as in a product called "Stall Dry"?
I will check the ladies for bugs tomorrow. And bleach the coop. Never had a problem like this before.

 

[CGinJCMO]

Actually, bugs/mites was my first guess. They are uncomfortable on the roost where the bugs are feasting on them. Check on other threads for how to look for them and get rid of them. If you see anything like ENY-290/IG140: External Parasites of Poultry

And here's how to get rid of them How to Sterilize Your Chicken Coop | eHow.com

CG

 

[Chicken Love]

Great, that's what I'll do then.
do I need to do anything to the birds themselves?