Couple behavior questions

[jmb52]

Mine are just now laying but they are always under the coop too! They seem to love it and I think they feel super safe.

I just hope mine don’t decide that’s where they want to lay their eggs! Has that been an issue for you?

 

[RoyalChick]

I have 5 pullets who are 14 weeks old (first time mama hen here). They have a partially covered but completely hardware-clothed run that’s 184 sq ft and access to under the 8x6 coop. I do need to put more things in the run for entertainment, but I’m finding that they spend almost all of their time hiding in the dark under the coop. It makes me kind of sad, because I feel like they’re not being active except for during supervised free range time. The coop and run are tucked into a wooded area that is shaded. Is this normal behavior for their age, or could there be something displeasing about the run? Also, they were pretty social up to around 10 weeks old, but I was out of town quite a bit in July and have noticed they are much less friendly now. Could this change be a teenager thing? Thanks everyone!View attachment 2788784View attachment 2788755

Super cute chickens and coop too.
I would get a chair and small table into the run - they will feel safe under it, will jump up on it for fun and you can sit at it and spend time with them so they get more used to you.
Some other junk like branches will help as well in the run.
Hang a cabbage from a string - maybe you can get a hook in one of the roof beams of the run - and soon they will be having fun out in the run with you.

 

[Nicrom]

I just hope mine don’t decide that’s where they want to lay their eggs! Has that been an issue for you?

4 out of my 6 are laying. We have found a few under the coop and around the run in random places. But not too many! I think it’s the brand new layers not realizing what’s going on and unaware of what’s about to happen! Haha! Now they are all in the nesting boxes thankfully!

 

[jmb52]

Super cute chickens and coop too.
I would get a chair and small table into the run - they will feel safe under it, will jump up on it for fun and you can sit at it and spend time with them so they get more used to you.
Some other junk like branches will help as well in the run.
Hang a cabbage from a string - maybe you can get a hook in one of the roof beams of the run - and soon they will be having fun out in the run with you.

I like the chair idea but I feel like they’ll just poop all over it! But I agree, I still need some more enrichment in there!

 

[jmb52]

4 out of my 6 are laying. We have found a few under the coop and around the run in random places. But not too many! I think it’s the brand new layers not realizing what’s going on and unaware of what’s about to happen! Haha! Now they are all in the nesting boxes thankfully!

That’s good to hear! I bet that is quite a surprise to them at first haha.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I like the chair idea but I feel like they’ll just poop all over it!

Let them. You don't need to give them nice furniture. Garage sale, thrift shops... lots of us pick up junk left on the curb and haul it home for chicken usage.

 

[3KillerBs]

I like the chair idea but I feel like they’ll just poop all over it! But I agree, I still need some more enrichment in there!

I have a couple plastic lawn chairs in my run. I have them upside down when it's just the chickens and only turn them rightside up when I want to sit in there.

 

[Sally PB]

I have a couple plastic lawn chairs in my run. I have them upside down when it's just the chickens and only turn them rightside up when I want to sit in there.

I need to get a plastic lawn chair and do just that. What a great idea!

 

[3KillerBs]

I need to get a plastic lawn chair and do just that. What a great idea!

They're a great run addition. The chickens perch on them and shelter under them. Then I flip them over and sit on them myself.

I even use one to hold the netting closed at night on the Splits' temporary coop.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Habits are hard to break. There is also the possibility that they are aware of a predator in the area.

That's what came to my mind. Until they're SURE there is no threat, they'll stay under the coop. How much time have you spent outside with them (while they're under the coop) observing what's going on in the forest behind the run? How about watching the tree-tops for hawks and other birds of prey? I suspect if you sit outside for about an hour and observe that you might be surprised at what you detect in the area around your coop/run.