expanding the coop I bought

[tgblldog70]

Ok I bought a coop online a few mths ago to give a home to our 4 Isa brown hens and that darn rooster LOL, after a few weeks when putting them away at night I see that there is not enough room, so after telling the wife they need a remodel!!

, We went to home depot bought 7 sheets of 1/2x2x4 panels 8 cinder blocks , two 1/2 inch dowl rods and I have a 4ft x 10 storage unit door (the roof)

So after a few hrs the coop is twice the size and last night we added a lean-to to protect the gals during the rain, so we put them away and I go check on them around 10pm and all 5 are huddled up in two of the 4 nesting boxes????

Why would they be doing this??? there roosting bar is 4ft long and there second story loft floor is 4x 3 and there is 4 nesting boxes???? could they just be afraid of the new HUGE coop??

 

[oldchickenlady]

What is your roosting bar made of? 2x4's laid wide side up is the best because chickens can't 'grip' a round bar as well as wild birds. This may not be your problem, but if the dowels are your roost that may be the problem.

 

[GoldDogsMom]

They are probably just uneasy about the change, give them a few days to get accustomed to the space. Also are you using the dowel rods for roosts? That seems a little small to me, I have 1x1s for roosts and I know some people use 2x4s. You are a good Chicken Papa for seeing the need for more room and doing something about it!

 

[tgblldog70]

thanks for the help and yes the dowl is used for the roosting bar I guess I re-do that on tues. to see if they like that better Thanks again!

 

[TheJuan-n-Only]

The roost bar higher than the nest boxes? If not that could be the problem....I have 2x3 as roost and recently added a branch as a perch on the run...one of my girls opted to rrost there at night (the branch is only 1.5") go figure! lol