lone pullet sleeping outside of coop in run

[Cuccismith]

Checked on my Chickens when I came home tonight... My BO who is near the bottom of the totem pole, was sleeping out on a roost in the run. Everyone else was in the coop... why? I did pick her up and put her in the coop. I leave the coop door open and secure the run as the heat is too much. Any thoughts?

 

[sourland]

Someone is probably harassing her when she goes into the coop so she has decided to sleep outside.

 

[Cuccismith]

ugh... I hate this part! she's my favorite too...

 

[krista74]

Oh, that's so sad!

I have a BO who is at the bottom of the pecking order too. The other 6 birds sleep on the roost snuggled up together, but won't let her snuggle with them.

Instead, she sleeps on the same roost, but at the opposite end of it. Alone. Cold. Sad.

It breaks my heart.

I always give her special treats to make her feel better. I love her, even if they don't.

Krista

 

[Xtineart]

I don't know what you can do, I have a similar situation with my wee tootsie, she's a stunted wee thing and only half the size of my other hens who try to rip her apart if I lock them in the same overnight coop, the banging and squealing of her trying to escape breaks my heart to hear when I've tried putting her in after dark and shutting the door. I eventually added an extension to my coop and run, basically joining on a smaller coop at one end. she now chooses to sleep in there on her own. I'm not sure it's the correct solution but she seems much happier and gets a chance to sleep in peace even if she might be lonelier. I'm not sure what I'll do though when it comes round to winter as I'm worried she'll freeze in there on her own as it's lower to the ground and without a fully closing door, probably great in this hot weather but not so good if it turns wilder.

 

[krista74]

Can you get her an even smaller friend to play with in the second coop?

I have no idea if that would even work.....

It's the nature of the beast, isn't it? My hubby says one will always be picked on, and if it isn't her, someone else will take her place as the lowest in the order.

It's a never-ending problem I'm afraid.

Krista

 

[Cuccismith]

Well thanks all.. she has gone back in as I put her on the roost last week. She is the biggest and the lowest. Well compared to many chicken's lives there's is still
super spoiled and fabulous. Let's all remember that!