Assigned Seats for Sleeping Arrangements

[PurtyGertie]

Just curious if anyone else's chickens have self-mandated assigned seats at bed time? I started to notice that I was tucking the same girl's tail feathers in each night to close the coop door. Now that I have started to pay attention, it seems they pretty much sleep in the same arrangement each night! Alpha hen is always furthest from the door. Just thought it was funny and wondering if anyone else picked up on this with their ladies and gents.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Oh of course....my girls have their places on the bar and tend to sleep in the same spots each night. I do go up each night and get the light turned off and make sure everybody is on the bar. I know their places as well and will get them on in order to help prevent fighting.

And they do have their bunk mates too! They just have to sleep next to their favorite buddy!!

 

[sourland]

Birds are pretty much creatures of habit. They do tend to develop an order to the way in which they use the roosting bars. Dominant birds tend to take the highest perches, and 'buddies' generally sleep next to one another.

 

[PurtyGertie]

I learn something new or notice something different with them every day! Funny little things. Definitely creatures of habit, so that makes sense. I think the thing I've found mpst interestong about my girls order in particular is my sweetest, most picked on Buff O sleeps right in the middle of everyone!

Thanks for the feedback

 

[aart]

They do have habitual roosting places and/or buddies..... but it can change too, maybe as the pecking order might change.

I have some that sleep in the same place next to the same bird night after night after night.....
....but then there is another 'group' that seems to switch things up every night.

 

[Chickenchick11]

Oh yes! My girls each have their special spot on the roost.

My girls usual "arrangement" is:

The three Rhode Island Reds

The two White Rocks

The single Red Sex Link

Sometimes one of the WRs likes to mix it up though, she'll go sandwich herself between the RIRs. LOL