My chickens are defective

[MAchicken105]

Will only come out for this.....

 

[Hawgfan]

My Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds are about the same age, and they are the same way, pullets and cockerels alike. They really seem to dislike bright sunshine. They'll hang out in the run for a couple hours in the morning, then lounge in the coop for most of the day. Late in the afternoon, they'll repeat the process. I have 3 Pekin ducks that live with them, and they typically do the same. They'll gladly come out to free range in the yard, but insist on staying near the fence, where the tall grass keeps them shaded, if the sun is still high. When it's time to roost, it's a race to see who can fill up the top bar first. They have never had any issue with that.

 

[Sara Ranch]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. You've heard of couch potatoes? You have chicken coop potatoes.

As my friend would say, "Oh good. They aren't burning calories. You will save so much in feed!" (Seriously - we raise our chickens so differently!)

Make sure the doors are open so they can get out. If they are new to laying (sounds like they are) then they may want to stay close to the nesting boxes for when they get the "urge" to go.

As for the pile up, I have some that still do that. Ironically, if it's raining outside, they hang out in the coop and on the roosting bars. But when the two bigger roo's come in and everyone settles in for the night, they head for the nesting boxes to cuddle.

Do you have any roosters? If yes, does he try to mate with them at night?

Again, no worries. The six car pile up is really an opportunity for a family photo.

 

[MAchicken105]

That's exactly what mine do... minus the roosting. Good to know. Thanks!

My Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds are about the same age, and they are the same way, pullets and cockerels alike. They really seem to dislike bright sunshine. They'll hang out in the run for a couple hours in the morning, then lounge in the coop for most of the day. Late in the afternoon, they'll repeat the process. I have 3 Pekin ducks that live with them, and they typically do the same. They'll gladly come out to free range in the yard, but insist on staying near the fence, where the tall grass keeps them shaded, if the sun is still high. When it's time to roost, it's a race to see who can fill up the top bar first. They have never had any issue with that.

 

[MAchicken105]

No roosters, just the ladies. They love snuggling with each other. It looks so uncomfortable, almost hope no one gets smothered but they seem like they are big enough for that to not happen.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. You've heard of couch potatoes? You have chicken coop potatoes.

As my friend would say, "Oh good. They aren't burning calories. You will save so much in feed!" (Seriously - we raise our chickens so differently!)

Make sure the doors are open so they can get out. If they are new to laying (sounds like they are) then they may want to stay close to the nesting boxes for when they get the "urge" to go.

As for the pile up, I have some that still do that. Ironically, if it's raining outside, they hang out in the coop and on the roosting bars. But when the two bigger roo's come in and everyone settles in for the night, they head for the nesting boxes to cuddle.

Do you have any roosters? If yes, does he try to mate with them at night?

Again, no worries. The six car pile up is really an opportunity for a family photo.

 

[PirateGirl]

I don't have answers, just some brainstorming...

In terms of your coop, is there anything that makes being on the floor more attractive? as in maybe there is a draft near the roost? or maybe the roost is hard to get on or off (I built mine a little ramp which running up and down to the roost became a great game)? or maybe the roost is too close to the wall or ceiling or window?

Is there anything new in the yard? Sometimes new is scary. There may actually be something in their run that makes them uncomfortable and they are hiding inside. As others have mentioned, they are creatures of habit, and while some chickens love to investigate new things, others are terrified!

Also is there a good shade spot/hiding spot in the run? My ladies love their wind break/sun shelter and if the wind is too much or the sun is too much will go inside.

or maybe this is just the way they are and just the way they like it.

 

[Krazyquilts]

I have the same thing! I have a mix of mostly guineas but also 5 adolescent turkeys and 6 adolescent (3 mo) Barnevelder chicks and while the guineas and turkeys loved going into their pen and now into their pasture, the Barnevelders will only leave the coop (which is a gutted camper converted into a coop) if I pick them up and toss them out, and even then, they run right back in as soon as I turn my back. When I forced a couple out during the day while training our guineas to come back to roost in the coop, the Barnevelders insisted on staying under the camper the whole day. All the other poultry were running around having a fantastic time eating grass (the turkeys) and freaking out about all the grass (the guineas). I could barely tempt the Barnevelders out from under the coop even for some tasty raw corn on the cob!

And there's nothing scary about their pen or pasture. No hawk or eagle attacks, etc. Nothing terribly awesome about their coop, either. Maybe some chickens have agoraphobia?

 

[Fairview01]

You have healthy chickens that are giving you eggs and you have concerns about them staying in the coop. Why? My chickens do a great imitation of ducks when it rains. They get all soggy when they could be high and dry in the coop. I don't fret about it because I'm not the one getting wet. As long as my chickens are healthy, happy and giving me eggs they could hang upside down in the coop all day long and I wouldn't raise an eyebrow. They'll come out when they are ready too.

 

[Sara Ranch]

I let my animals explore on their terms, for the most part.

When I moved my baby chickens to the coop, I walked them around outside and showed them the pasture and the coop. I set them down in the yard. I set them down in the coop.
They figured out things on their own. Ok, so I might have had to guide some chickens into the coop at night, in the beginning, but they figured it out pretty quick.

My ducks have a "new" house. I've been trying to get them use to seeing it and going to it. My duckies are way too fast and too big to pick up and carry. (Would have thought waddling ducks could be so fast??) I enticed them over to the new duck house a few times with food. They wouldn't go in it, but now they will go down to the duck house and walk around it. Explore the outside. At least they will be familiar with it when they move in this weekend.

All my new guys are carried around and show the ropes. Some adapt quickly and others take a few months.

I try to see things from their perspective. So when the new guys are here, or there is something new in the area, I try to introduce them/it slowly. At the end of the day, I've done what I could and they will have to go at their own pace. Some breeds are more skittish than others.

With the stockpiling, it's amazing that no one gets injured or dies.

 

[Impatient]

I've heard that some people will cover the entrance to the nest boxes at night to encourage chickens to roost. Some duck tape and cardboard would fit the bill, just need to remember to take it off in the morning . My chicks are the same way, from the very start they've had a roosting area in the brooder, they'd rather sleep on the floor.