All but one of my hens are done molting. The last one just started a few days ago, and for the past two nights she has been going to sleep in one of the nesting boxes. She isn’t acting broody at all, and doesn’t seem to be affected by the molt. Eats, drinks, poops and chases the pullets as usual. She’s a year and a half old. Is she cold? It’s been getting down to the high 30s at night. Her molt isn’t too bad (yet). Posting a picture of the worst spot, which is protected when she brings her neck in and fluffs up to sleep. There’s no exposed skin anywhere else. Is she going in there for warmth/shelter, or “just because” (I understand that the latter might well be the answer ). I would’ve guessed that huddling with her friends would keep her warm better than the box. She’s high ranking and bossy, couldn’t have been banished there by the flock. The flock consists of 5 hatch-mate hens a year and a half old, and 3 hatch-mate pullets, integrated for about half a year now. The coop is 5x7. I have closed the windows for the season, so there’s nothing blowing at the roost (lots of ventilation up under the eaves). Nobody is laying at the moment so I could just block off the nests, but the pullets should start soon so I don’t want to do it for long.
What do you think is going on here?
Here’s her molt level (worst area):
And here’s their roosting setup (she’s the one by the wall on the right):
What do you think is going on here?
Here’s her molt level (worst area):
And here’s their roosting setup (she’s the one by the wall on the right):