Nesting box smothering

[silkienewbie93]

some birds retire to nesting boxes when they are ill; you might want to check the condition of the other two.

Also, silkies' feathers don't insulate as well as normal feathers; has it been very cold or hot where you are?

The others seem okay to me. My silkies have always slept on the ground in a pile or in the nesting boxes, they don’t like to roost so it’s not too unusual for them. It’s just the first time I’ve seen them all in the same nesting box.

The weather has been pretty nice though. I’m in Ontario and it’s been warming up recently - around 12°C during the day and down to a little above 0°C at night, but the coop always seems a little warmer than outside. They are used to much colder temps

 

[Bawkbok]

Happy to hear the others are ok.

 

[azhenhouse]

this morning I found one of my chickens dead in the nesting box. When I checked our cameras to see what happened I noticed she was one of 3 chickens who slept in the same nesting box last night. I hadn’t noticed anything else wrong with her in the days prior.

Do you think this could be a case of nesting box smothering? I feel so bad for not noticing the three of them were sleeping in there.

Honestly, at their age I don’t think she was smothered. If everyone is healthy I would say it was just her time. I know five doesn’t seem old but for some it is.