Ever Watch Your Girls Settle in for the Night?

[Baymule]

My girls are so funny. Robin, the top hen has the best spot on the roost. She guards it against all others and pecks them in order to keep her place. The older hens still sleep every night on the older, smaller roost. I built a bigger roost when I got more chickens, Robin is the only one of the "old" girls to switch to the new roost.

They sleep in their own little groups. The mixed breed pullets that hatched on Christmas Day, sleep at the top of the roost. Rusty, a little black hen with red tones, sleeps next to Robin. My DH bought me 6 Red Star 6 month old pullets a few weeks ago and they sleep lower than the mixed pullets. I got 6 SLW chicks in March. I call them the hooligans, as they have claimed a nest box as their suite and I have to chase them out every night.

One of them actually was on the roost tonight!

They all jostle for position, pecking and squawking at each other. Sometimes one or two will knock another hen off the roost. Then she starts all over again, hopping up the ladder to find her just right spot. They softly cuk,cuk,cuk as they settle in for the night. Peace descends with the darkness and all is quiet.

 

[centrarchid]

I like listening for the vocalizations just before and as they fly up to roost. The flock leaders produce a roosting call that brings others up. With my game harem leaders, the rooster can even get balance of family to roost in a different location by calling them to it while on the ground.

 

[RisingEagle]

My babies are only 4 wks old but so far this is how they let me know they're ready for lockdown.
They free range the smaller backyard (until they are older then they can go in the bigger backyard) and never come on the porch during the day until they are ready for me to put them to bed in the evening.
One sings melodies to me before bed too, it's sweet.
As soon as they are in it's a bunch of ruckus for 10 minutes then my sweet Melody (far left in pic) puts them all to bed. It's really cute!

 

[goose4]

This one was taken last winter as they were just starting to settle down for the night. The coveted top roost is filled first then they fill the other two levels. The push each other aside the either climbing on top of or going under the hen that is in their way. When it got colder there was a competition to see who got to sleep next to Mr Wonderful. Evidently he gave off a lot of body heat. In the summer they slowly trickle in as it starts to get dark. The more adventurous chickens come in last.