Over crowded a little???

[moodlymoo]

I have 17 pullets, 3 who sleep on to of the nesting box and the rest who all sleep together IN 1 nest box. My nest boxes are corner cabinet units turned on their side. I dont have the heart to kick them out since they love sleeping together. They have a ton of roost space but no body wants to sleep there.

 

[Grog]

Just make sure that no one is on the bottom of a pile. I lost a hen to that a while ago, its better to take out the boxes till they roost than loose birds IMHO

 

[GardenGal]

It's so cute when they're little, but not as cute when they're adults and will draw blood to fit in the nesting boxes

I had the hardest time moving them up when they were little, but got ruthless after a couple late comers wound up with bloody combs. Fortunately they seemed to figure out perching on their own, and now it's not an issue. Really cute photo though!

 

[moodlymoo]

Well I would never want my girls to get hurt so I will start putting something in there at night. All can get to the roost but 1 so I may give them a little more time. Thanks for the heads up I really appreciate it as this is my first time with chickens

 

[goldies99]

yes very cute pic.....but i would put a stop to it as well....mine did the pig pile in the corner when they were young....
i kept the nest boxes closed off till they needed them....i went in the coop for a few nights and would put each of them
on a roost....they would stay there all night and finally got the hang of it and stopped sleeping in the corner!

 

[moodlymoo]

I would but I have surgery tomorrow so I wont be in the coop for a week or so. I will talk to my son and convince him to do it for me. Will they stay warm enough though? I worry because it is getting pretty cold here

 

[goldies99]

are they fully feathered???...that is the same thing i worried about....and yes i think they will be fine (if they have feathers)
they all snuggled up on the post together!......good luck with your surgery!

 

[moodlymoo]

all but 1 and she is my little cochin. She is so small compared to the rest to so I worry most about her.

 

[goldies99]

can you bring her in at night (and maybe one of her friends)....and then back out to the coop in the morning??....
thats what i did when i thought the night may be too cold,,,then back out in the morning and all day!

 

[Grog]

how old are they? And as long as they have their back feathers they should be ok