Chickens suddenly staying in coop

[chickenlady12]

Hi Everyone. My two chickens, one Leghorn and one Speckled Sussex, each about a year old, have always spent almost all their time outdoors in their run, even in bad weather (there is a roof though). Recently, in the last few weeks, they have been spending a lot of time sitting in the house. It's more the Sussex than the Leghorn, and the Leghorn squawks a lot when the Sussex sits in there all morning. They seem otherwise normal. This coincided with my switching from crumbles to pellets. They wouldn't eat for a couple of days, but then they gave in and started eating the pellets. They started spending a lot of time in the coop when they weren't eating. But now they seem to be eating, but they keep sitting in there. Is this OK? Is it a cause for concern? They still lay eggs regularly. And I take them out every day to spend time in their portable grazer, and they still seem happy to do this. Thanks so much.

 

[Outpost JWB]

Maybe they are trying to go broody? Or maybe they were being picked on or bothered by a rooster(s)? If they are eating and drinking fine, I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[chickenlady12]

Thanks. The Sussex seems broody -- but she keeps sitting in the spot where the Leghorn usually lays! When they go broody, how long does that last? I don't have any roosters, but I will take a look around and see if anything else could be bothering them. They're near to the house and the windows are always open, so it couldn't be a predator, but maybe it's bees or flies or some other annoying thing.