Snuggling in 100 degrees

[GetClucking]

Hello guys and gals. Hope everyone is doing good.
okay so from day 1 we have always called our chicks the ninja chicks cause they are completely crazy.......hysterical, but completely crazy, they would find miraculous ways of escaping from there little coop when the were just baby's.
Anyway so today it reached 100 degrees with a nice wind, we went in the morning as usual and opened up the door to the run and opened the windows a couple of the girls went out so we kinda left them to it to choose to go out, we return about an hour later from working down at the garden to see 3 boxes filled with 5 birds each in them all snuggled up together! Is this normal for chicks to do at this heat? They are 11 weeks old, most of them will just stay in the coop while about 9 or 10 of them will happily go outside. How do you get you chicks to go outside with out pushing them out? And will they not over heat all snuggled up together in this heat? We have 70 odd birds our coop has great air vents and circulation but still 100 degrees.
I'm new to all of this and my concerned mum is making an appearance.
-Fiona

 

[aart]

They are probably hiding out from the older birds?
Are all 70 bird in one coop?

 

[GetClucking]

They are all in one coop, it's a huge coop I went past the recommended sizing for them and done bigger and All birds are the same age.

 

[aart]

They are all in one coop, it's a huge coop I went past the recommended sizing for them and done bigger and All birds are the same age.

How big is coop (feet by feet)?
Are they free range...in a run.....access to deep heavy shade?

Maybe bribe them out with treats?
Is food and water outside or in the coop?

 

[GetClucking]

How big is coop (feet by feet)?
Are they free range...in a run.....access to deep heavy shade?

Maybe bribe them out with treats?
Is food and water outside or in the coop?

The coop is 16x16 with an add on run of 16x16 Which is on 2 acres which they have to roam free. We have half the coop shaded and the other half not, we are just waiting on some big shade trees getting delivered to us for the outside. We move the food outside when we open everything up. Would we just leave it up to them if they want to go out they go out kinda thing.

 

[aart]

16x16 is tight for 70 chickens.

 

[GetClucking]

Is it recommended to add an additional coop? they are still very small at the moment and will eventually only be in there at night.

 

[aart]

Is it recommended to add an additional coop? they are still very small at the moment and will eventually only be in there at night.

Either add coop space or reduce the numbers of your flock.
What are your goals for those 70 chickens?

Not sure what your weather is like there(WA makes me think lots of rain).
What about during bad weather and predator events?
Is your run solid covered and predator proof?
Do you have a good 60-70 feet of roost length in the coop?
Do you have 18-20 nests once they all start laying?

Crowding can cause the behavior that you're seeing,
they may be piled in the nest because they are afraid of something and are seeking comfort by huddling together,
and it could get worse the older and bigger they get.

 

[GetClucking]

Where we are we don't get much rain we're in the gorge area. We are doing egg production for our village.
Our run is completely predator proof and covered. I'm not sure what roost length is, again I'm very new to this.
We have 24 neat boxes.
They don't seem stressed or uncomfortable they just don't seem to want to go out side, the seem to enjoy the snuggling

 

[aart]

Where we are we don't get much rain we're in the gorge area. We are doing egg production for our village.
Our run is completely predator proof and covered. I'm not sure what roost length is, again I'm very new to this.
We have 24 neat boxes.
They don't seem stressed or uncomfortable they just don't seem to want to go out side, the seem to enjoy the snuggling

Yeah, you have to learn as you go with chickens.

Healthy birds should be active most the time, tho they do lounge around for parts of the day.
I test mine for lethargy possibly caused by illness by bringing out treats and seeing if they will perk up.

Hot birds will seek shade and dig in the dirt there to lounge.
They will pant and stand with their wings out.
Mine do this at 80-85 degrees...but perk up when I bring out frozen treats to cool them off.

I would be concerned if birds piled into nest boxes in 100 degree weather and try to get them out and moving for some cool water and/or treats..