My oddball out

[Crickster83]

Hi folks, I'm needing some advice for a hen who has some particular bedtime behaviors. She is 6 months old, very healthy and active, consistently laying beautiful eggs, but she won't roost with her flock, she sits right in front of the coop door and she pants constantly at night. I've checked her for all the signs of pests, illness, injury, nothing. Why is bed time seemingly so stressful for her? She is very affectionate at this time as well and wants to be touched and hugged.

Edit to add, the coop was built 3ft off the ground, is it possible she just feels this is an adequate hight? There is a 2x4 across the threshold she sits on

 

[jbj25]

Is it hot in the coop?

 

[thecatumbrella]

It's possible she's being bullied off the roost and just gives up. She does sound like a sensitive soul! Can you put a cheap camera in there and check out what's going on at night?

 

[Crickster83]

Is it hot in the coop?

Not terribly, they have fans and extra shade over the coop roof as well

 

[Crickster83]

It's possible she's being bullied off the roost and just gives up. She does sound like a sensitive soul! Can you put a cheap camera in there and check out what's going on at night?

I would have thought so too, but she is head hen, we have a roo, but she is the last into the coop and she won't go in past the threshold. She will face out and sit and wait for me to love on her, then just sleep there for the night

 

[thecatumbrella]

I would have thought so too, but she is head hen, we have a roo, but she is the last into the coop and she won't go in past the threshold. She will face out and sit and wait for me to love on her, then just sleep there for the night

She might be waiting for some loving! One idea is to modify the 2x4 threshold to something smaller and less comfortable. Don't ask me how, but there has to be a way to hodgepodge something together.

She might also just need to be retrained to roost. Skip the snuggles, throw her on the roost bar, and shut the coop door.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Chickens can be trained. It sounds like you may have trained her to roost there.

If you consider her safe from predators while sleeping there you can let her. If you want to lock up the coop just push her in to the coop floor and shut the door. She will be OK if she is on the coop floor. It will not hurt her at all. Some chickens like to sleep on the floor. Or you can make it as complicated as you wish.