Chicken no longer sleeping on perch

[Lighteml]

I have a polish chicken who has recently stopped sleeping on a perch. We had a broody silky hen who has raised a few chicks to 10 weeks and has now gone back to the perch. Is it possible the broody kicked her out, or should we worry about the polish no longer sleeping on a perch? The baby chicks are still sleeping in a nesting box, and there is plenty of perch space for her. My son did take the highest pole down because one of the hens was being pooped on at night. The Polish is now sleeping on the ground below by the perches. Seems like odd behavior all of a sudden? Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[N F C]

Welcome to BYC!

I wouldn't be surprised if the silky didn't drive the Polish off the roosting pole. Competition for roost space and what chickens see as the "best" place to roost can be fierce.

We have a window on the side of our coop and many evenings I've watched our girls jostle for position on the roost. Even with plenty of room, they're kind of like kids and want what the other has.


Good luck with your birds and the new chicks!