Hens acting funny today

[duckman14]

I have 1 BO 10 wks old, 1 BR 10 weeks old,and 1 sexlink roo (soon to be leaving us) also 10 weeks old. Two days ago I added 3 black austalorps 6 wks old. They seam to get along ok. Not great but no blood shed. Yesterday wile they were outside I added nest boxes in the coop. I thought they would flip out last night when they came in but it didn't seam to bother them. This morn when I opened the door the older 3 ran out like always and the younger 3 stayed in. ( probobly for some time away from the others). They stayed out for only a few mins and went back inside and have been inside all day. They've never done this before. They love being outside. Even in the rain. But it's nice and sunny today. Any ideas what there up too?

 

[Judy]

It's hard to say. Maybe they feel safer in the coop, with those big bad nest boxes shaking up their world, lol. They are definitely skittish around anything new, even a new treat. Maybe they are curious about them. I'd probably let them be where they want for a day or two, then scoot them out of the coop if they still won't go out. If it's on the hot and sunny side, maybe the coop is more comfortable. In the summer, mine go in the coop in the heat of the day, I assume for the breeze and shade, because it's like a wind tunnel in there. They have some shade in their yard, but it's probably cooler in the coop in the middle of a hot summer day.

 

[duckman14]

Thanks. Ill defenetly just keep an eye on them. They seam fine inside its just strange. And it's actualy kinda cool today. Low 60's. the nest boxes are new and the three 6 week old chicks are new too so maybe just to much change at once

 

[duckman14]

Well tonight the 3 younger chicks finally went outside and the other 3 followed. So the prob wasn't the new decor it was the new roommates.