My hen's roosting habits

[Peppercorngal]

Chickens are truly amazing. I have two runs and coops and there are outdoor roosts in each run. They are identical roosts that husband made. The "old" hens (in run #2) would never use their roost, they would sit on the ground but I NEVER saw them on their roost. I have the new chickens in run #1 and they use their outdoor roost lots and lots. I recently started free ranging them together so they can get used to each other. I like to sit out and watch them and I saw the old hens will go into run #1, eat a little food and then ROOST! The only difference is that the roost in #1 run was situated so that when the chicken would go from lowest to highest roost they would be going from East to West. I noticed that the roost in run #2 was opposite. Jumping from lowest to highest the chicken would be going from West to East. Just to see what would happen I turned the roost in run #2 the same as run #1 and what do you think happened? The old hens are now roosting on their own roost! Chickens with a sense of direction? Who would have thunk it!!! Anything like that happened to you?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Chickens are truly amazing. I have two runs and coops and there are outdoor roosts in each run. They are identical roosts that husband made. The "old" hens (in run #2) would never use their roost, they would sit on the ground but I NEVER saw them on their roost. I have the new chickens in run #1 and they use their outdoor roost lots and lots. I recently started free ranging them together so they can get used to each other. I like to sit out and watch them and I saw the old hens will go into run #1, eat a little food and then ROOST! The only difference is that the roost in #1 run was situated so that when the chicken would go from lowest to highest roost they would be going from East to West. I noticed that the roost in run #2 was opposite. Jumping from lowest to highest the chicken would be going from West to East. Just to see what would happen I turned the roost in run #2 the same as run #1 and what do you think happened? The old hens are now roosting on their own roost! Chickens with a sense of direction? Who would have thunk it!!! Anything like that happened to you?

Who knows! LOL Could very well be that chickens prefer a "direction" It would be interesting to find out.

I recently ran across something "similar" with dogs. According to a study, dogs prefer to poop on a North/South direction. I try to remember to take note, but my husband and I have found that our dog does indeed seem to point N/S or S/N when relieving himself
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/dogs-poop-in-alignment-with-earths-magnetic-field-study-finds

 

[chickens really]

Hmmm?..Where is the door and window if you have one situated?..

 

[Peppercorngal]

Who knows! LOL Could very well be that chickens prefer a "direction" It would be interesting to find out.

I recently ran across something "similar" with dogs. According to a study, dogs prefer to poop on a North/South direction. I try to remember to take note, but my husband and I have found that our dog does indeed seem to point N/S or S/N when relieving himself
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/dogs-poop-in-alignment-with-earths-magnetic-field-study-finds

Instinct in animals is something we human people don't really understand! At least I don't! I'll start watching my dogs too now! Thanks for a new obsession!!

 

[Peppercorngal]

Hmmm?..Where is the door and window if you have one situated?..

These are their "outdoor" roosts in the run. The both runs are all chicken wire, 7 feet tall (my husband is over 6 foot something and can't stand low things!) so there are no windows. Run #1 door is facing East. Run#2 door is facing South.

 

[Peppercorngal]

This should help. First photo is Run #2 with the roost facing the exact opposite of the one in Run #1. The other two photos is Run #1. I know it's not so pretty, but I built them all by myself.

 

[Sinful chick]

This should help. First photo is Run #2 with the roost facing the exact opposite of the one in Run #1. The other two photos is Run #1. I know it's not so pretty, but I built them all by myself.

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I, think they’re beautiful!!

 

[New2Chicks97]

Who knows! LOL Could very well be that chickens prefer a "direction" It would be interesting to find out.

I recently ran across something "similar" with dogs. According to a study, dogs prefer to poop on a North/South direction. I try to remember to take note, but my husband and I have found that our dog does indeed seem to point N/S or S/N when relieving himself
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/dogs-poop-in-alignment-with-earths-magnetic-field-study-finds

LOL! This proves our labradoodle is even more crazy than we thought......she spins in a circle when going #2. She just can’t seem to be normal at all. Maybe she has a broken internal compass?

That is funny about the chickens. Who would have thought that direction would matter.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I, think they’re beautiful!!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Thanks for your nice comment!