[starcana]

I now have five chickens and two houses (as I used to have 8 chickens, but that's another story!). When I had 8, I had four in each house (having got them at different times and put them in their own house). The share a very large old orchard surrounded by a cornish hedge (and now some chicken wire too, see earlier 8 to 5 comment!).

For the past few months,since there's been 5, they have all started sleeping in one house (the domestic foul  trust half-way-house) which wouldn't be a problem except as the are all large birds, three sleep on the perch and the other two sleep in the nesting box (one each end) and poo in the hay that they used to respect for eggs. It's obviously overcrowded for all five to 'perch'.

Question; how can I now move two of the hens to the other house? After dark as when I first get/add new hens? Or any other tips appreciated. Thanks

[Rosemary]

They don't care about the poo and your idea of overcrowding. Winter's coming and the more hens in the house, the warmer it is. Unless you pen each group in with the house you want them to use, I think you will find that they will gravitate back to one house. I think I would if I were a hen in the same circumstances 

[Eggs, Chicks & Hens]

I always move birds when its dark, easier to catch & they dont get streessed chasing em about

[deepinthewoods]

some of mine sleep in the straw whilst the rest perch, i think theyre happier all together and warmer too.
could you not improvise another perch?

[northfifeduckling]

out of my 7 there are always 5 cuddling up in the nesting boxes at the moment. Don't know how they do it, sometimes quite some squabbling going on at bedtimes. In the summer they perch. I'm quite sure it's not overcrowding that they don't fancy the perch just now. I would not move them on in the cold season. I was told you can screen off the nesting box to avoid the night pooping in there and to make them perch but as I'm not outside before the kids are off to school, so then I'd have to pick the eggs off the floor - same difference. So it's cleaning out the nesting box every morning, fine - as long as the chooks are warm and happy. Just buy some new ones in the spring for the other house, problem solved 

[starcana]

ok, case settled. Thanks everyone, I'll leave well alone, so long as I'm not being cruel 'overdrowding' them. They do have two perches across the width of the house but only about 3 inch space between and as they're large they take all the horizontal space.

[jaykay]

I guess if they have the choice of somewhere else, and they choose to be all together, that's what they prefer  it's if you gave them no choice and they were all squashed that you'd be being mean 

You should see my 'chicks'. They're all still squashing into the small chick house - but now they're all full grown  Still, there are several alternatives, so I can only conclude that they like snuggling up 

[Hopewell]

Winter's coming and the more hens in the house, the warmer it is.

Would someone like to tell my hens and especially one of the cockerels. They have taken to roosting in a large elder tree next to the house. They don't seem to care if there is a gale blowing. This morning one of the cockerels starting crowing around 5am, probably because of the street lighting. Fortunately our one neighbour seems to be very tolerant.

[Cinderhills]

Hopewell. I can sympathize.  My lot are still in the hawthorn tree and of course now it has no leaves they are more exposed to the elements.  I have tried to get them in but am hoping that when we get really cold weather they may decide to go inside.  I wonder though why yours have decided now to roost in the tree?

[Rosemary]

They have taken to roosting in a large elder tree next to the house. They don't seem to care if there is a gale blowing.

I'd give the house a good going over for red mite, if you haven't already. If it's uncomfy at night, they'll try and find al alternative.

[Mel Rice]

Is there room to put some grain down in the hen house? You could try and intice them in at /near bed time like that. a couple of days treat then grain further in and shut the door!

[Hopewell]

Thanks cinderhills for your sympathy. The chickens started roosting in the tree when we got some new ones, but why the cockerel has moved roost I don't know. We have had very little trouble with mites this year so I don't think its that.