Good morning, everyone!
Quick background: I’ve got three Rhode Island Reds, roughly 2.5 months old. They are the only chickens outside.
They free-range on our tropical forest property during the day—lots of scratching under the moist bamboo and eating the fodder I grow for them, dust baths in the dry clay soil areas and general tom-foolery in hot (82 degrees) and humid weather.
At night, they put themselves to bed in the coop (which they genuinely seem to enjoy), and in the mornings they head right back out to play and try to trip my husband with their zoomies. I provide fermented feed, fresh fruits and veggies, and ice water outside during the day. Inside the coop, they have dry starter/grower crumbles, and more water (which is usually their first and last meal of the day).
They have zero signs of illness. Perfect growth rate. Textbook droppings, clean vents. Heavy eaters (I should say 'gobblers'). Shiny feathers and alert and silly personalities. Very bonded.
Here’s the odd part: all three are cramming themselves into one nesting box to sleep—piled on top of each other, which means... yeah, they’re sleeping in poop.
They’re not using the coop’s main sleeping area, which has perches, covered/concealed and is well-ventilated with a window and vents, just in front of the nest boxes.
Is this normal?
I’m wondering if they’re scared of something at night?
Are they just being goofy?
(should note, this is not a predator zone- no raccoons, large wild cats, etc)
It’s strange, because during the day they happily run in and out of the coop like it’s their favorite clubhouse. Any insights or ideas welcome!
Quick background: I’ve got three Rhode Island Reds, roughly 2.5 months old. They are the only chickens outside.
They free-range on our tropical forest property during the day—lots of scratching under the moist bamboo and eating the fodder I grow for them, dust baths in the dry clay soil areas and general tom-foolery in hot (82 degrees) and humid weather.
At night, they put themselves to bed in the coop (which they genuinely seem to enjoy), and in the mornings they head right back out to play and try to trip my husband with their zoomies. I provide fermented feed, fresh fruits and veggies, and ice water outside during the day. Inside the coop, they have dry starter/grower crumbles, and more water (which is usually their first and last meal of the day).
They have zero signs of illness. Perfect growth rate. Textbook droppings, clean vents. Heavy eaters (I should say 'gobblers'). Shiny feathers and alert and silly personalities. Very bonded.
Here’s the odd part: all three are cramming themselves into one nesting box to sleep—piled on top of each other, which means... yeah, they’re sleeping in poop.
They’re not using the coop’s main sleeping area, which has perches, covered/concealed and is well-ventilated with a window and vents, just in front of the nest boxes.
Is this normal?
I’m wondering if they’re scared of something at night?
Are they just being goofy?
(should note, this is not a predator zone- no raccoons, large wild cats, etc)
It’s strange, because during the day they happily run in and out of the coop like it’s their favorite clubhouse. Any insights or ideas welcome!
