Chook not going up to roost

[TheWolfRaven]

I have 3 Australorp girls, about 2-3 years old, getting eggs every other day from each of them (except 1 who is late moulting).

Had them since they were a couple weeks old, and they're all real sweet. Usually they're up and about between 4-5am every morning, and they'll go to bed around 5-6 (days are getting a bit longer now, so it's getting later each day).

Never had a problem with them going to bed before other than when they were very young and still learning- they've got enough space in their coop to all huddle up or space out if they want (but usually keep close).

Came home late tonight (around 9), and forgot to check for eggs today since I was out all arvo (and they are all arvo layers), and noticed one of my girls was not in the coop.
She was lying down below the coop, and I panicked cause I thought she was dead. Poked at her and pulled at her feathers through the wire, and she woke up. Waited with her until she made her way up to the coop.

Could she have just dozed off outside and fallen asleep or...?

It was really chilly tonight (about 14 C and strong winds), and I've never seen any of them sleeping outside or staying out any later than sundown.

She seemed okay when woken up, but I was wondering if anyone has seen this before or could explain why she might have done this?

Or am I just overreacting..?

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Did anything change recently? Was there a predator scare? Sometimes if they are stressed they act a little goofy. The others could have bullied her too. Generally something disturbs their normal routine for that to happen.

My head hen who was always super confident refused to go to bed at night after a raccoon scare. She would go in and out all day. Lay eggs and act normal. Then at night I'd find her sleeping on the ground outside. It took about a week of me putting her in at night for her to decide it was good idea.

I'd keep an eye out. See if you can find what might be causing stress. Watch how the others treat her at night if you can. See how she seems to be feeling as well. If she's under the weather the others could single her out or she could separate herself.

It could also be a fluke...Chickens