Unusual flock behavior

[NNYchick]

I have 10 ameraucana that are 6 and 7 months old. They were going out of the coop all summer. Now they roost at night in one area of the coop get up at sunrise and move to the back darker area of the coop and stay there all day except to eat. Even if the door is open and it’s a nice day. None of the hens are laying which isn’t completely uncommon for ameraucana but I I think they may start soon as their combs are red. I have had chickens for 8 yrs and never seen them stay in the coop unless there is deep snow on the ground or raining. They are eating, drinking and healthy. Any thoughts on how to encourage them out of the coop for fresh air and exercise? Picture of inside of coop first area is 8x16 and were they roost at night, farther area is 8x8 darker and were they are spending all day. I have removed that nest box because it was built for my bantams and I now have large fowl and they won’t fit in it.

 

[Mrs. K]

How odd.

Move your water and feed outside? Chickens do get notions.

It is a lovely coop - full of light and ventilation.

I don't think this is the problem, but once my chickens got poisoned, and they had terrible light aversion. An old building that they hung out in, shifted a bit, and a pack rat storage area of poison oats was exposed. That was a sad week.

I think they are having a notion, unless there is something out in the run that is spooking them?

 

[Ridgerunner]

How long have they been doing this? My guess is that something frightened them. Could be a predator, could be something else. Has anything changed outside?

I don't know what your outside looks like, how safe it is from predators or if something else has changed. If it has only been a few days I'd let them work it out. If it has been more than a few days I'd look for possible predators or if something has changed.

 

[Mrs. K]

I too wondered about that, but to be honest, I have had coyotes pick off hens, and the rest were more than willing to go outside the run the next day.

 

[NNYchick]

It’s been a week or so. I was looking around, one thing that did change are all trees are bare. We have a lot of maples so they have lost all the leaves. Another thing is the weather it went from being hot and dry to raining or snowing but not everyday. We did have a family (5) of raccoons causing trouble this summer but they all got lead poisoning last month when they were found on top of my coop one night. But that was long before this new behavior.

 

[sourland]

I lean towards the possibility of a predator in the area.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It’s been a week or so. I was looking around, one thing that did change are all trees are bare. We have a lot of maples so they have lost all the leaves. Another thing is the weather it went from being hot and dry to raining or snowing but not everyday. We did have a family (5) of raccoons causing trouble this summer but they all got lead poisoning last month when they were found on top of my coop one night. But that was long before this new behavior.

I cannot explain what is going on, sounds strange to me. I assume snow is not covering the ground? That could do it.

The only downside I can think of is that they are pooping back there instead of outside. Poop may build up enough that you have to manage it. I don't think it is hurting them to stay in.