Chicks prefer a tighter space

[luukasama]

Hello there,

I'm not sure what the issue is here, but I'm leaning more towards space since that's what is the problem. We have a small coop, which holds about 5 chickens now since 1 passed away. They have a second floor where we keep their food and water. Recently, as of the last couple of weeks, they all like to pile themselves into the small, 5" netted area right underneath the roof. We've added two dowels for them to hang onto, but nope, they don't want that. Here are some pictures:



and another:


If you see the little wood barrier to the right of the aluminum tray, you will see the netting that's used to let the air in. The same is on the other side where those dowels are. That's where they are stuffing themselves into.

They also don't want to use the area where their resting area is. Is this because the area is too small (which doesn't make sense considering where they stuff themselves into) or because I have the food and water there? The reason why it's (food/water) by their resting area is to give them convenience of not having to go down to get their food.

Am I just being silly and is that the reason? Please "edjumacate" me.

 

[Judy]

Since they are sleeping where the air comes in, I would say they want more ventilation or breeze, that they are too hot and looking for the coolest place. Chickens do not tolerate hot weaather well at all, while they tolerate temps well below freezing well with only adequate ventilation.

The dowels may be too small in diameter though you didn't mention their age. To my mind it would be much too small for adult large fowl birds. Chickens' feet do curl around a round perch but only so far. I use the side side of a 2x4 for a perch. It's also possible the dowels are too close together for them to be comfortable.

Good luck!

 

[luukasama]

If you notice in the picture, I actually have a fan installed right in the crook of the roof's top point. I normally run that on times where they are in the coop, but the past couple of nights, it felt like it was cold enough that they didn't need it. Also, the fan is pointed down, not at the bed on the second floor. Do they like wind blowing right on them? I'd like to think that they would behave like humans would - if it just keeps blowing and blowing, eventually you would feel too buffeted by the air stream. Am I wrong? Or should I keep the fan on a timer?

 

[Judy]

I don't know. I run l box fan all summer but it is in a large coop, well above the roost and about 6' to one side of it. It makes sense they would appreciate a breeze in summer, but maybe a fan blowing on them would disturb their feathers too much, or something.