Hen Sleeping on Floor Alone.....

[paltinas]

My 8 chickens (6 hens, 2 roosters) are in a 12x12 shed with plenty of roosts for them.....They have been in this coop for a year now....One hen (golden comet) the last three nights has decided to sleep on the floor alone.....Besides that she is acting normal....eating, going out, coming in, etc. Any ideas why? Should I be concerned? I made a nest of hay where she has been sleeping to add some extra cushioning and warmth for her....

Thanks!!!
Shannon
New Hampshire

 

[galanie]

Do you think she could be going broody? Maybe wanting to hatch some eggs? It would have to be either that, she is hurt, or that the others are running her off.

 

[elmo]

Is she molting? Two of our hens have lost their flight feathers and can't fly up to the roost right now. I rigged up a stair step contraption for them so they can hop up to the roost, and I lift them down in the morning to make sure they don't injure themselves.

 

[paltinas]

Hmmmmm....She does appear to be molting....Maybe that is it.....

 

[schumanw]

Maybe she is just being where she wants to be. Some of my chickens just plop themselves down and sit a while.

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
I second this. Some of mine prefer not to roost. They like to snuggle into the shavings. It's just making sure they don't sleep UNDER the roosting chickens.

 

[paltinas]

Dad just went out and built a ramp... will be interesting to see if she goes up tonight...Made a small area where she has been sleeping and put a lot of shavings and hay .....Just want her to be comfy wherever she decides she would like to be

 

[LisaCammie]

I have 3 light brahmas and 1 plymouth rock. The rock kept snuggling up in the nesting box instead of roosting with the brahmas. She's a bit of a loner so I thought I'd give her her own space (and get her out of the nesting box). I built a perch about 6 inches higher than the pine shavings. I showed it to her once and now she roosts on her perch every night. She's got her own spot that she doesn't have to share and she can just step up on the perch.

-Lisa

 

[paltinas]

Went out tonight to lock them in and she is cuddling with all of the others on the roost...I guess since she is molting she can not fly up. She looked very happy....

 

[azygous]

I have two hens that would like to get up and roost on the perch with the others but are just not agile enough for the task. I've watched their painful attempts. And I do mean painful.

One is a Brahma and the other a Cochin. I tried making a little low perch, but neither wanted to have anything to do with it, so now I place these two up on the perch every single night. (Sigh) Tonight I came home late from Thanksgiving festivities and there they were, both of them, still pacing back and forth under the perch trying to gain courage for one more attempt.