Open window or close this window?

[Bear1978]

So last night after I had put the pullets up in the coop and locked it, I went out to check on them and noticed that 3 were on the roost, kinda, but huddled up in the corner nearly on top of one another positioned out from being directly by the opened screened in window adjacent to the roost which is circled in the attached pic. The other three were up on the window ledge of said window. I have ample roost space there but I am wondering if perhaps they do not like having the window that is right next to the roost area open at night while they sleep? I have 2 other windows and screened in soffits as well for ventilation. I plant on putting another roost higher up where the ledge is that the three were perched on because the bigger they get the less room that will be on that spot. So my question is, should I shut the window that is next to the roost at night or leave it open? Thoughts? Opinions? Concerns? So you folks who are more chicken experts speak up! Lol!

 

[RobertaD1]

Mine are weird like that... I don't think they feel safe with the window open. I just give them someplace else to roost. Mind you, when a window is covered with plexiglass, they are fighting to be in front of it.... but not when they are completely open. Close it one night... see if that helps.

 

[Bear1978]

Mine are weird like that... I don't think they feel safe with the window open. I just give them someplace else to roost. Mind you, when a window is covered with plexiglass, they are fighting to be in front of it.... but not when they are completely open. Close it one night... see if that helps.

Thanks! I plan on doing that this evening to see if there’s any difference. My only real concern is how they are basically laying on top of one another and I don’t want one to get smothered to death!

 

[RobertaD1]

You could always manually spread them out. Right now, my littles... about 11/12 weeks olds...think they have to sleep right on top of each other. But, they are starting to spread out. They were worse during that awful heat last week. Now, they don't do it as much.

 

[Bear1978]

Yeah. I could. That would probably work for all but my two leghorns. They’re the only two who think I’ve come to eat them when I get to hands on with them lol

 

[Lilokieescorter]

Thanks! I plan on doing that this evening to see if there’s any difference. My only real concern is how they are basically laying on top of one another and I don’t want one to get smothered to death!

I have 4 silkies, 4 EE'S, 1 CQ & 2 frizzles, the EE'S will go to the top of the roost & kinda huddle, my silkies & CQ which was accepted as a silkie all gather @ the door all piled up on top of each & then after the at I add the sizzlers later as they are a little later & worry about that some time too.

 

[Bear1978]

Chickens are so weird lol

 

[Bear1978]

So today I installed a third roost that’s higher than the first ones, which makes it about 5ft off the coop floor and I shut the window that is right next to their roosts when I locked them up tonight.

I just got done checking and 3 of them are in the highest roost and the other three were perched on the lower roost that’s next to the window but NOT all huddled up but actually perched next to one another like they normally would be. So it seems they did not like that window open at night! Who’d thunk it!!