Chicken Roosting Behavior Input?

[jennyf]

I have six chickens who seem to live together pretty happily (no feather picking, squabbling, etc). The coop has 8 feet of roost space (2 four-foot roosts). The last couple of months, I've had one, rarely two chickens (always one or every once in awhile both of my two Wyandottes) that sleep on the floor! Why would they do this? There's usually four chickens on the top roost (sometimes all five on one) and usually one chicken (not always the same chicken) on the second roost by herself. Doesn't seem to be any foot/leg issues going on and no overt bullies. The chicken the usually sleeps on the floor was halfheartedly broody off and on this summer (dealt with it by just physically moving her out of the nest box for a weeks weeks a couple of times a day and distracting with scratch). Could that be related? Attaching a picture to give an idea of the setup.

 

[abraga]

Wow...love ur set up!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You need more roost space at the same height, but further away so the lower members aren't being pecked at on the roost which is probably the reason they are choosing the floor.

Where a chicken roosts is very important. The higher the bird the more safe it is. Lower ranking birds generally get the bad roosting spots, and a bigger chance of being snatched in the nights, so squabbling on the roosts is normal. Lower birds move away to avoid conflicts, but your birds can't get away, so they choose the floor.

 

[azygous]

Have you watched your chickens interaction as they go to roost? You will likely find your answer as to why some prefer the floor.

Roosting time often is a time of tempers flaring and pulling rank. If chickens don't have enough linear space to accommodate flapping wings as they fly up onto the perch, they can knock the other ones off, creating conflict.

More timid chickens simply are not up to bucking these conflicts so they take the easy way out and sleep on the floor or even outside in the run.

There is a chance your hen is still broody and she's "nesting" on the floor. Often merely kicking a hen out of a nest isn't enough to interrupt the broody hormones. A hen deprived of a nest and who's still broody will satisfy her need for contact with a surface that reflects her body heat back to her by settling into a depression on the ground, both during the day as well as night. If it's been only recently that your hen went broody, she likely still is.

 

[aart]

Looks like adequate space and spacing to me.
Bet the floor sleeper is low bird, and they may be shunning her due to her broody behavior. I'd give it time and see what develops, as long as she's not getting a nasty butt from sleeping on the floor(no where for poops to drop away).
You might try replacing the lower branch with a 2x4 side side up,
I've have bigger birds need more stable footing.

 

[chicmom]

Nice homey coop! Love it! Chickens are funny characters. They would all love to be at the highest point, but no everyone will fit. And they have their special friends that they want to roost beside too. It's fun to watch them. I'm guessing the hen on the floor is low girl in the pecking order. But they all look healthy, so it's really nothing to worry about. You've really done the best you can with the space available. The only thing that could change that would be if you could have two roosts at the same level, and maybe a ramp or something that your chickens could use to climb up. Maybe a ramp against the back wall, up to the roosts would work. Beautiful chickens!

 

[jennyf]

Thanks everyone! I just swapped it out for a 2x4. It would be challenging to spread out roosts more with the window there. Aart got me thinking, she is one of my heavier birds, and that roost did have a tiny bit of play, so perhaps the 2x4 will fix. I'll try to watch them settle in tonight. After everyone gets over the "OMG what's that terrifying new thing in the coop" moment...

 

[BirdHead]

Small coop space it looks like... Just my opinion I like my fowl to have room.

Also, chickens always pick the higher roost to sleep on at night (if they free ranged they'd be in a tree you can't climb) so multiple roosts all different heights causes issues within the pecking order especially if they're all different lengths as well and having to fight for the spot at night can get weary watching them. I got three roosts in my coop of 4, only one is for sleep and it's a 5' high roost connected to a shorter 4'4" roost they hop from. They never sleep on the runs roost but still use it to look out the wire and or to be nosey when I'm doing something.

Occasionally I'll find a bird on top of the nest box because she couldn't make it to the top roost before it hit dark so she gets stuck there, it doesn't hurt to move the fowl onto the roost to sleep more comfortably yourself. Treat em like kids and they'll act like it

 

[aart]

Thanks everyone! I just swapped it out for a 2x4. It would be challenging to spread out roosts more with the window there. Aart got me thinking, she is one of my heavier birds, and that roost did have a tiny bit of play, so perhaps the 2x4 will fix. I'll try to watch them settle in tonight. After everyone gets over the "OMG what's that terrifying new thing in the coop" moment...

Haha!! For sure! Give it at least a week

I had some light brahmas, big girls, and a 2x2 nest perch, they sure struggled navigating that perch. Swapped it out for 2x4 and viola! no more problems.