ChrisGinn
Hatching
So I have been a long time reader but never made an account to post. But now here I am. Hello all!
So this is our first year having chickens. We have eight chickens that are all around 10 - 12 weeks old. They grew up together in the brooder with no issues.
For about the past month or two, they have been living outside in their coop 4' deep x 8' wide x 4' high.
I was finally able to get their run secured and able to let them out of the coop about two weeks ago. Their run is 12' x 16' x 7.5'. They have been acting fine and have always gone back in their coop at night without ever needing to be guided or encouraged to go back in. They have always been cuddled up in a corner of the coop when it gets dark out (never noticed them using the roosts at night that are in the coop).
So today was probably eventful for them. I finally got around to cleaning out their coop. It was dirty but didn't smell like ammonia or have any foul odors. They have been going in and out every day and have had no issues going back in at night so I doubt it bothered them. Today I cleaned the coop and put in about 5-6" of pine shavings from tractor supply (same bedding that they have always been using). Although it may be thicker now as it has leaked out of the coop when I would fill their food and water. It has been over a month since they have had fresh bedding or had it this thick.
To add to injury, this evening was also the first time that I let them out of the run. They were out of the run for about an hour or two before it got dark. They all returned to the run without issue. Well the Leghorn Rooster kept trying to fly up to the side window of the coop that is outside of the run. I was eventually able to guide him back into the run. Here is where it's confusing me.
I believe they were all nested in at the top of the ramp, right at the opening to the coop, but refusing to go in. They were piled up on top of each other. Now at this time, it's dark outside and they have ALWAYS been in the coop by this point. They have never piled up at the top of the ramp before. Long story short, I was able to push a couple in but then had to partially lower the door and carry the rest into the side access door of the coop before I could get the door the rest of the way shut.
Once they were all in, they continued to act like they didn't want to be there. They all congregated to the corner that they have normally been sleeping in, but instead of hunkering down, they were pecking at the wall and sounded like they were trying to scratch their way out. I'm not sure if they are trying to say that something is wrong with the bedding or what. I'm honestly confused. I couldn't find anything matching this problem when I searched.
So the only things different today is that their bedding is clean and about 4" - 5" deeper than it was and that I let them out of the run towards the end of the day. I have no clue why they were huddled up at the top of the ramp. Before I carried them all in one at a time, if I pushed them in, they would soon come right back out. It's like they're trying to say something is wrong.
Any insights???
Thanks!
- Chris
So this is our first year having chickens. We have eight chickens that are all around 10 - 12 weeks old. They grew up together in the brooder with no issues.
For about the past month or two, they have been living outside in their coop 4' deep x 8' wide x 4' high.
I was finally able to get their run secured and able to let them out of the coop about two weeks ago. Their run is 12' x 16' x 7.5'. They have been acting fine and have always gone back in their coop at night without ever needing to be guided or encouraged to go back in. They have always been cuddled up in a corner of the coop when it gets dark out (never noticed them using the roosts at night that are in the coop).
So today was probably eventful for them. I finally got around to cleaning out their coop. It was dirty but didn't smell like ammonia or have any foul odors. They have been going in and out every day and have had no issues going back in at night so I doubt it bothered them. Today I cleaned the coop and put in about 5-6" of pine shavings from tractor supply (same bedding that they have always been using). Although it may be thicker now as it has leaked out of the coop when I would fill their food and water. It has been over a month since they have had fresh bedding or had it this thick.
To add to injury, this evening was also the first time that I let them out of the run. They were out of the run for about an hour or two before it got dark. They all returned to the run without issue. Well the Leghorn Rooster kept trying to fly up to the side window of the coop that is outside of the run. I was eventually able to guide him back into the run. Here is where it's confusing me.
I believe they were all nested in at the top of the ramp, right at the opening to the coop, but refusing to go in. They were piled up on top of each other. Now at this time, it's dark outside and they have ALWAYS been in the coop by this point. They have never piled up at the top of the ramp before. Long story short, I was able to push a couple in but then had to partially lower the door and carry the rest into the side access door of the coop before I could get the door the rest of the way shut.
Once they were all in, they continued to act like they didn't want to be there. They all congregated to the corner that they have normally been sleeping in, but instead of hunkering down, they were pecking at the wall and sounded like they were trying to scratch their way out. I'm not sure if they are trying to say that something is wrong with the bedding or what. I'm honestly confused. I couldn't find anything matching this problem when I searched.
So the only things different today is that their bedding is clean and about 4" - 5" deeper than it was and that I let them out of the run towards the end of the day. I have no clue why they were huddled up at the top of the ramp. Before I carried them all in one at a time, if I pushed them in, they would soon come right back out. It's like they're trying to say something is wrong.
Any insights???
Thanks!
- Chris
