Spastic chicks at bedtime

[LaurasLorps]

I moved my four chicks (9 weeks and 7 weeks) out into the coop this weekend. They are doing great, except when it comes to bedtime. They have started flying up to the roost, but then they all tussle around up there. They try to climb all over each other or burrow under one another with lots of flapping and stressed chirping. I wouldn't worry about it, except for they tend to (accidentally) knock each other off, and I am a little worried about one of them getting hurt. The roost is about 3 feet off the floor

What would cause them to act this way?

They are all fully feathered and it hasn't gotten below 65 at night, so I doubt they are cold
The roost is about 5 feet long, so there is plenty of room. It is level all the way across so there is no "higher ground" to be fighting for.
The only theory I have is that they are scared of the dark and that they will hopefully just get over it.

Does anyone have any thoughts on my spastic chicks? Is there something I need to do, or is this just the adaptation period that I should wait out?

 

[greenckick]

I think your girls are just figuring things out in the new space. I doubt anyone will get hurt.
My girls have been in the coop for 6 weeks now (they are 15 weeks old) and just in the last 3 nights have they all started roosting. Before all 5 would cram themselves into a nesting box after much flapping and jumping and squawking. About a week ago one of the girls started spending the night on the roost, then another joined her, now they are all up there.

Chickens are silly creatures.

 

[devora]

Get used to it b/c they're gonna do a version of this every night, more or less. Sometimes less.

Sometimes more.

They are setting in for the night, deciding who gets to sleep where (hence the crawling over). "I wanna sleep here!"

Usually no one gets hurt.

 

[poultryman17]

i have 31 in the coop at night and a nice size roost to boot. They have been out there for the past three weeks and do you think even 1 of them would roost for the night? of course not. So insensitive to my feelings! ( i built the roost and was pretty dang proud of it) They all snuggle in right by the door every night fighting for position and location. I figure they will eventually figure it out. So will yours.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

I have 14 chicks in a brooder that we had in our utility room located off the kitchen. We then moved them to a room that use to be a carport of our home and the first few nights they did the very same thing as you mentioned laying in a corner on top of one another peeping like mad. It was like all 14 wanted the same spot. After these two nights it just stopped and they all went back to their roost.

I have no clue why they did it but I to was glad to see them finally happy again in the new location. BTW, the new location of the brooder was under a window so I'm not sure if it had to do with the window and the last rays of day light or what it was. All fine now and they are going in their outdoor coop this afternoon when the weather cools down some.

 

[devora]

Either I or other posters are misreading your OP.

Your birds are on the roost? That is what I understood.

If they are on the roost, the behaviour is normal.

If not, put 'em on the roost.

 

[Ole rooster]

I have 7 that have been in the coop for just about a year now. 4 others are from a hatch and are 23 weeks old. They all are laying but at night what a fight. Last night I thought they were trying to kill each other. What a mess. When they're all about the same size I let them figure it out. When chicks are in there I have a roost sectioned off for them. But last night was a mess.

This morning they all were alive and eating so I reckon they were doing chickens things.