Roof Sleeping but Not All

[merrywait]

FTCO here (first time chicken owner)
Girls are doing great. Going into the coop at night. No bullying. Very social
Now, at almost 5 months old, one or two a night will try to sleep on the roof. Any idea why?
Coop is an 8 bird coop. Cleaned weekly with new bedding and diatomaceous earth sprinkled in all the potential pest hiddies. No sign of predators.
I am in eastern NC so it is brutal hot. I checked the coop each night and it is cool and has good air flow.
Would love to know why some of the girls are sleeping on the roof.
Advice is much appreciated!

 

[sourland]

Other birds may be pecking at them, or it may be slightly cooler outside.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Welcome to BYC!

I would guess they are either trying to find the highest roosting area available, or it’s just cooler up there.

 

[aart]

Coop is an 8 bird coop.

According to whom?
What is the actual size in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics, inside and out, would help here.

Welcome to BYC! @merrywait
Her's how to add your your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[merrywait]

According to whom?
What is the actual size in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics, inside and out, would help here.

Welcome to BYC! @merrywait
Her's how to add your your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2261229

AART, it is the Cumberland Coop from Tractor Supply. As said 8 chickens but I know that is not doable. I have four.
While I have your ear, any suggestions how to get my girls to stop sleeping in a bundle? Even in our NC heat, they sleep on the coop floor, not the perches and they sleep on a big ball. I’ll get my profile loaded. Things for reaching out to help others!

 

[aart]

any suggestions how to get my girls to stop sleeping in a bundle? Even in our NC heat, they sleep on the coop floor, not the perches and they sleep on a big ball.

Well, the roosts in that coop are basically on the floor.
There is also little to no ventilation.
Not sure I'd put more than 3 birds in that sized coop(36 x maybe 30) and that includes the nests.
Pics of your actual coop an run on your coop page would be good.

Here's a pretty good mod for that type coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535

 

[merrywait]

I thought the roosts were a bit low. Pics are brilliant. I have no carpentry skills but I am sure willing to try. Might be why the girls are trying to sleep on the roof. They want to roost.

 

[aart]

Might be why the girls are trying to sleep on the roof.

Maybe. More likely crowding and fresh air.