Pullets hanging out in coop alot...

[MrsEskew]

Ok so my pullets will be 10 weeks old Friday. They have been spending more time in the coop during the day then out and actually roaming around. They don't act sick, actually very lively when they finally decide to come out a bit, and they are eating and drinking normally. Is this normal?? Or are they just being lazy? My other hen only goes in to lay an egg or when its time to roost.

 

[LeiaLayers5]

I have not had any that young but I would guess that that would gradually change, they are just getting comfortable with their settings and eventually they will spend less and less time in there. As long as they are not acting sick or lethargic it might just be a quirk for now.

 

[JackE]

Something might have scared them. Maybe a hawk divebombed them. They tend to go, where they feel safe, if scared. I've seen the same thing with my flock, then they just go back to being normal chickens.

 

[MrsEskew]

Thank yall. It quite possibly could be a hawk scaring them. I have seen them around. I haven't noticed any in my yard but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. That's why when we were building the pen we netted the top with that really strong black netting. I guess ill let them do what makes them happy. Lol! I just didn't know if I had weirdos or not.

Thank you both for your replies.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My guess is that they are afraid of the older hen. At that age she greatly outranks them in the pecking order. Younger chicks in that situation tend to form a separate flock most of the time, avoiding the more mature chickens. So they tend to spend their time in the coop when she is in the run to avoid her.

All that is perfectly normal and really to be expected. You might find them on the roosts when she is on the coop floor if they are locked in the coop together before you let them out in the morning.

Eventually they will mature enough to work out a place in the overall pecking order, including that older hen, and form one flock. That normally comes when they start laying.

One good thing is that they are watching that older hen, learning from her even if they are avoiding her. She will teach them where to lay and how to act like chickens.

 

[MrsEskew]

Thank you so much. They do seem to be separate from the older hen. And I was wondering about that. It makes me feel better knowing that they will form one big flock. I have the 5 pullets, the older bantam hen, and a bantam rooster. They all get along for the most part but the hen and rooster stick together and the pullets stick together. I'm glad that you told me all of that. The pullets will get quite a bit bigger than them when they get older. Maybe it is a good thing she is getting her bluff in on them now?

 

[BigATC]

Funny, my 8 week old pullets are hanging out in the coop today which is odd. I did see a group of quail around the run.... perhaps that "scary" quail gang put them on edge.