How do chickens sleep?

[Jose21]

I thought chickens were supposed to sleep on a perch - I found my two 6 week olds lying down flat out in their bedding last night - necks extended on the floor? Is this normal? I am worried as the coop I have only has a perch area once the nest boxes are in, which I am not putting in until they are older - so if they like sleeping on the ground then there won't be room. Just a young chicken thing? Any advice welcome.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

It does seem to be a young chicken thing. BTW if you have only two hens you may only need one nest box for them.

 

[chickenbythesea]

I'm new to the whole chicken thing too, but my week olds seem to sleep in three positions, 1) in a little ball they way you'd think they should, 2) stretched out like a dog with either their legs stretched out, their neck stretched or both, and the newest 3) standing up. I have no idea what's normal but they all seem healthy and happy.

 

[Jose21]

Two more chickens joining them in September - had these from hatching, so need to wait to introduce others.
Thanks

 

[ajay]

Mine are a month old and they sleep laying down.

 

[Wildflower_VA]

My chicks are 16 weeks old today, and they have gone back and forth between roosting and sleeping on the floor of the brooder and now the coop right along. Chickens are leery of change, so when I put them in a new and better roost in the coop when they were 12 weeks old, they went back to sleeping in a huddle on the floor for nearly two weeks. For the first two nights, they wouldn't even sleep in the coop--they slept outside. My thoughts are that they sleep however they feel comfortable.

 

[F106A]

This view freaked me out when I first saw my chickies doing it! Once I realized they were just sleeping, it took me a couple days of sneaking up on them before I could get a decent photo! As you can see, a couple of them still caught me!

Mark

 

[lla3922]

 

[lla3922]

Here is a picture of one of mine sleeping on a perch

 

[alibra]

Some opt for the roost at just a few weeks old, & some don't. I have a huge orpington rooster who sleeps like a cat