Pig pile on the roost?

[nursesusanb]

My flock that I had raised from chicks made a bad habit of sleeping in one particular nesting box. So to break them of the habit I closed them off with cardboard, so they couldn't sleep in them. I went to check on them last night and they were all piled up on one tiny little 18 inch section of the roost, 10 chickens in all. It wasn't cold last night, maybe in the 60's. The roost is over 8 ft long.

So what would make them pile up like that? They used to do it in the nesting box as well, so why do they like to be in each other's space so much?

 

[Wynette]

It's a chicken thing.

I believe they feel safer piled up together.

 

[nursesusanb]

They seemed to have spread out a little more tonight. But still mostly to one side. Too funny! Chickens are much more quirky than I would have thought.

 

[aart]

Agrees it's for 'safety'.
Some think it's for warmth...and might be in the winter.
It is funny, they may do it less when they are older.