starting to get really ticked off....

[lollipopguild]

   This seems mystifying.  Just a thought.  You said the birds are fine outside but deaths are occurring inside the coop?  Was the coop used for anything before poultry?  Storing paints or farm equipment that might have leaked oil or something? Barring this I would suspect they are piling on each other instead of roosting.

Nope. The previous owner already had it set up for birds. The only thing in the coop before I took over was some wood.

2x4's wide side up make for much more comfortable roosts, especially if you live in a cold climate, more comfortable = more likely to be used.

They look to be about 6 -7, lets say 8 feet long so about 32 feet...good for about 32 chickens.

There's no way I'd put 50-60 chickens in 120 sq ft....I mean you can try to fit them in there, but you'll more than likely have problems.

You got a lot of chickens lost some and then got more lost some and then got more....might be you brought in some kind of disease?

JMO. 

I figured 2sq ft/bird for free range. The coop is just something to sleep in. The roost holds 20 birds easily, if they all used them with some room left over. However, half use them and the other half sleep on the upper loft or some shelving, etc. No disease. None act weird or sick. It's sporadic. I bought 6 EEs. All did great. The buckeyes that weren't killed earlier by predators are just fine. A couple older birds are fine. One day they are good, the next dead.

Couple more pics. Path to the coop. Brush and creek to the left, fence and barn to the right. They usually stay within 50 yards of the coop.

Front shot. Loft ontop. All the recent deaths are happening near the door, to the left.

To the right of the coop. Honestly, they don't go in this area. Even if I toss food, they just avoid it.

To the left. Lots of brush and a creek.

Normally, my first reaction would be smothering due to over crowding. However, 20 birds, half being pullets doesn't make sense for over crowding. I would then think disease, but no one has shown any signs of anything. My question then would be, how do I keep them from piling up? I've tried putting them on roosts, but they just keep jumping down back in the pile.

 

[canesisters]

I'd suggest:
1. an automatic door of some sort so that you don't have to worry about something getting in when you are late getting home
2. remove any barrier inside the building that isn't necessary - chickens are fun, but stupid - they will run headlong into things even when they can see well.
3. is a trail cam possible? That way you might get to see what's going on. Are they crowding themselves to the point that they are smothering?
4. try to identify what is making them feel so insecure that they won't roost - something has made them change their natural, instictive behavior - window nearby? bully bird making roosting difficult? something...?

 

[lollipopguild]

Another dead. They are simply smothering themselves. All were fine and I let them out. I came outside and a group were huddled together outside the barn door standing on one pullet. Damage was already done and it died while I was picking it up.

 

[lollipopguild]

This is the pile they keep making.

 

[SunkenRoadFarms]

Is this behavior happening with your newer birds? If so it sounds like bullying from the older ones is the culprit. It would explain not roosting too. You may have to separate with separate roosts.

 

[lollipopguild]

Is this behavior happening with your newer birds? If so it sounds like bullying from the older ones is the culprit. It would explain not roosting too. You may have to separate with separate roosts.

This is what I'm thinking. It's what makes the most sense.

 

[lazy gardener]

What are you feeding them? Do they have access to feed all the time, or do you feed just 1 - 2 x/day? How much feed are they going through in a month? What are your high and low temps running?

 

[lollipopguild]

What are you feeding them?  Do they have access to feed all the time, or do you feed just 1 - 2 x/day?  How much feed are they going through in a month?  What are your high and low temps running?  

Crumbles and scraps all the time. Free range during the day. Temps right now are 12 degrees.

 

[Free Feather]

Maybe the person you got them from was a horrid caretaker. Nearly all my chickens were from people who abused them, and this is a behavior they have. This could have been from a too high rooster ratio, not enough food, overcrowding, lack of proper roosts,or most likely, a fear they previously had. I mean like the person had a dog or something that made them afraid and run into corners, so when they see something relating to what scared them at the last place, they pile together. Maybe they were seeing something scary like a raccoon or dog at night, so when they hear rustling in the new place, they fly into the corner.
In one instance, I got six hens from a lady who did not give them a roost, so they slept on top of a square cage. When they came here and they had roosts, they were still used to sleeping in a cluster, or a square formation. They were not used to sleeping in rows. They would all pile on top of each other and nearly killed each other. I gave them a square bale to roost on, and they did it a little less severely. Just something to think about.
I say if you are able you should have someone check on them at night or watch them to see what exactly they are doing and why they are doing it, like what causes the slamming together. If they do it in the day time as well and killing each other, put them in smaller groups. Try groups of five and see how that works. It may sound like a lot of hassle but it will save lives.

 

[dekel18042]

What about water? Do they have it all the time? Heated water? Or is it freezing for long periods of time?