Lone chicken won’t sleep on roost

[Hyunsoo Moon]

Hello, we have a chicken who is a lone survivor from Marek’s disease wiping out the rest of our flock who won’t sleep on the roost. She sleeps in the nesting box, holds her pop all night, then in the morning takes one big dump outside the hen house.

Some of the poo looks half processed. I’m guessing this is due to her holding it in all night?

We’re either gonna give her away to a flock that has survived Marek’s, or bring in chickens that has been vaccinated at some point. But until then, how do we get her to sleep back on the roost?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry for your Marek's loss.

How long has she been alone? How old is she? Did she used to sleep on roost? (I see you say back on roost, so question answered already). Is she currently laying eggs? Any possibility she's actually broody? What is she doing during the day?

Don't know of many non broody bird that hold the poo all night. But IF they did, I MIGHT not care about them sleeping in the lay box.

You can always block of the nest. Or after it gets dark enough, physically remove her and put her on roost until she gets the point and follows suit. They won't do much in the dark because they don't see well at night.

Good luck finding her a friend!

 

[aart]

She may just feel 'safer' in the nest.

Some of the poo looks half processed. I’m guessing this is due to her holding it in all night?

Not due to 'holding'...does she have the proper grit available? What do you mean by 'half processed', what are you feeding and how does it look in the poops? Wonders if the Mareks affected her intestine function?

Don't know of many non broody bird that hold the poo all night.

Interesting point. Tho I have had a couple birds that appeared to 'hold it' until let out of coop in morning.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Interesting point. Tho I have had a couple birds that appeared to 'hold it' until let out of coop in morning.

Those are the ones I want to breed!