Chicken sleeping on top of the other chicken

[shannon84]

Hi, I have two old hens and I took out their roost for a few days, until the extreme cold snap moves out because I wanted them to sleep on their new heated chicken pad, (it's a big heating pad) Well I went out there tonight and they was on it, but my big overweight submissive hen was laying directly on top of the dominate hen! I could hardly see her because big Mama had her completely covered lol. I was just curious why she was laying on her? I'm a still some what a newbie to chickens . Thanks guys.....

 

[Animals45]

Maybe she was scared to sleep on the heated pad.

 

[shannon84]

Maybe she was scared to sleep on the heated pad.

She actually loves it, that's why I was so shocked to see her acting like that.

 

[azygous]

I have a couple of old biddies (age eight and ten) that try to crawl under each other to sleep. Sometimes it gets to be such a vigorous endeavor, the older one gets knocked off the perch. Luckily, she only has six inches to tumble to the floor.

The one that does it the most is a Light Brahma, and she's always, and still is, a snuggler. Beyond that, I have no idea why they do this. I assume it's an effort to rekindle the security and comfort they had long ago as chicks snuggling together for warmth and security.

You would need to watch the activity at bedtime to know if one hen is diving underneath the other one or the one on top made the decision to settle there. Not that it makes any real difference. If both are okay with the arrangement, I'd leave them to it.

Yeah, our chickens can be weird. But I'm sure they think the same of us.

 

[shannon84]

I have a couple of old biddies (age eight and ten) that try to crawl under each other to sleep. Sometimes it gets to be such a vigorous endeavor, the older one gets knocked off the perch. Luckily, she only has six inches to tumble to the floor.

The one that does it the most is a Light Brahma, and she's always, and still is, a snuggler. Beyond that, I have no idea why they do this. I assume it's an effort to rekindle the security and comfort they had long ago as chicks snuggling together for warmth and security.

You would need to watch the activity at bedtime to know if one hen is diving underneath the other one or the one on top made the decision to settle there. Not that it makes any real difference. If both are okay with the arrangement, I'd leave them to it.

Yeah, our chickens can be weird. But I'm sure they think the same of us.

Lol true, I'm sure they do think the same of us! Just shocked me to see it because she just plopped on top of the petite little dominate hen, I'm guessing she didn't mind one bit. Then I thought maybe she was hoping she could get her to move completely off the heating pad so big girl could have it to herself I've seen them do that over a "special" nesting box one time oh I'm not concerned or anything, I just found it very odd. That's cute about your hen being a snuggler . My rooster passed away recently, so it very well could be a security thing.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

One of my EE insists on sleeping with her head and neck under her roosting buddy. I don’t know if she feels safer that way....it’s kinda cute! Maybe she is afraid of the dark?

 

[shannon84]

One of my EE insists on sleeping with her head and neck under her roosting buddy. I don’t know if she feels safer that way....it’s kinda cute! Maybe she is afraid of the dark?

Lol! that is really sweet and precious! Chickens do some strange things, they keep me laughing