Hen not roosting

walker1229

Songster
6 Years
Dec 12, 2013
71
5
106
Wyoming
My Coop
My Coop
When I got my hens they all would roost, but I recently noticed one that has made a little nest in the straw on the grown and she isn't roosting anymore. At first I wondered if she was broody but she goes out all day, she does lay in it, and sleeps in it the next night, but doesn't stay in it during the day. I looked her over and didn't see any external issues, is there a reason she may not be roosting?
 
If she was roosting and has quit she may be getting picked on when trying to roost. Try setting her on the roost one night and see what happens. The girls on the top of the pecking order get the best spots and will push the lower girls away. If there isn't enough space for everybody to spread out the bottom girl can be knocked off the roost completely which could mean you need more roost space. Or you may just have a mean girl. There could be other causes but that's where I'd start. But in any case sleeping on the floor won't hurt her.


and goofy chickens nest boxes are for laying only NOT sleeping. You will understand this better when you start gathering poopy eggs.
 
and goofy chickens nest boxes are for laying only NOT sleeping. You will understand this better when you start gathering poopy eggs.

Have to agree with you there,, chickens poop constantly,, even in the middle of the night when they half asleep,,, unless you are willing to clean nests every morning,, it won't take long for your nests to become filled with poo
 
If she was roosting and has quit she may be getting picked on when trying to roost. Try setting her on the roost one night and see what happens. The girls on the top of the pecking order get the best spots and will push the lower girls away. If there isn't enough space for everybody to spread out the bottom girl can be knocked off the roost completely which could mean you need more roost space. Or you may just have a mean girl. There could be other causes but that's where I'd start. But in any case sleeping on the floor won't hurt her.


 and goofy chickens  nest boxes are for laying only NOT sleeping. You will understand this better when you start gathering poopy eggs. 


And yet I dont get poopy eggs. I've had one once or twice when chickens 1.started laying, 2.next box needed cleaning.
 
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When I got my hens they all would roost, but I recently noticed one that has made a little nest in the straw on the grown and she isn't roosting anymore. At first I wondered if she was broody but she goes out all day, she does lay in it, and sleeps in it the next night, but doesn't stay in it during the day. I looked her over and didn't see any external issues, is there a reason she may not be roosting?
How long between the time you got her and she stopped roosting?
How many birds and how long is roost? They need about a foot each of roost to get settled, tho may cuddle up closer to sleep.
How old are you birds and did you get them all at the same time?
She's not limping or moving slow?

Could be a change in pecking order.
 
I have multiple rungs on the roost, I have 5 laying hens, for about a week they all roosted, 2 like the very top one and the rest were on one of the middle rungs. After the first week she stopped roosting, last night I saw her on there again, but 2 of the other hens started laying in the nesting boxes :( not sure how to get them to stop that, but then again, only 1 lays in the nesting box, the others just make nests in the corner in the straw.
 
I have multiple rungs on the roost, I have 5 laying hens, for about a week they all roosted, 2 like the very top one and the rest were on one of the middle rungs. After the first week she stopped roosting, last night I saw her on there again, but 2 of the other hens started laying in the nesting boxes :( not sure how to get them to stop that, but then again, only 1 lays in the nesting box, the others just make nests in the corner in the straw.
Laying in the nests... or sleeping/roosting in the nests??

Can you post pics of your roosts?
 

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