Not Sleeping for Hours

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

My head hen has recently not been sleeping. Everyone else is inside the coop and asleep before 8pm. I don't open and close the coop door so they have full time access to their attached run which has food and water. Well, it's been four days now of me looking outside and seeing her slowly wander around the run until tonight where she is still out and it's past 11 pm. She doesn't have an obvious aim or a goal, she doesn't want out of the run either. The only thing that I can think of is I vaulted a waterproof "blackout curtain" on one side of the coop to block the lights we have on every night in our backyard. I did it because I noticed none of them were using the space during night where the light would hit. It doesn't obstruct the window ventilation because it is raised one foot off of it. It sounds ridiculous, but do you think she wants her coop nightlight back? The timing lines up. I thought exposure artificial lighting like that is bad for their inner clock? Is there another reason that hasn't occurred to me? She acts completely normal in the day. She lays in there and isn't adverse to going in, but at night will come out a few minutes and start the wandering. What should I do? The other chickens are now using that spot in the coop that was once blinded by light at night.

 

[SnackMeat]

Since she's head hen, she might be feeling like the light helps her feel more aware of threats so she can better protect the flock. Which could be why she's outside in the run.


It could be the nightlight thing. I only have experience with younger chickens but they have a light in their sleeping quarters (babies too) for a couple of hours which then shuts off (or fizzles out because some are solar lights.)

I have noticed, spying on my birbs, that some do seem to arrange themselves in relation to a night light, so they seem to get comfort from it. If the lights all go off too early they get upset.


But it could also be just any change in routine bothers her and she'll get over it. I would try a night light to see if that changes things, or maybe arrange some light to get into the coop, maybe less than before and reevaluate.


It could also be time to isolate her to evaluate if she's sick but not showing overt symptoms yet. So it could be something unrelated.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

Since she's head hen, she might be feeling like the light helps her feel more aware of threats so she can better protect the flock. Which could be why she's outside in the run.


It could be the nightlight thing. I only have experience with younger chickens but they have a light in their sleeping quarters (babies too) for a couple of hours which then shuts off (or fizzles out because some are solar lights.)

I have noticed, spying on my birbs, that some do seem to arrange themselves in relation to a night light, so they seem to get comfort from it. If the lights all go off too early they get upset.


But it could also be just any change in routine bothers her and she'll get over it. I would try a night light to see if that changes things, or maybe arrange some light to get into the coop, maybe less than before and reevaluate.


It could also be time to isolate her to evaluate if she's sick but not showing overt symptoms yet. So it could be something unrelated.

I re-nailed the curtain over the window to allow some light in, we'll see if that works. I try my best to check for health issues every weekend, cleaning their feet, checking plumage, weight, checking up on them at night, etc. I didn't see anything, so hopefully it is the light. She is the only one who's lived with light at night her entire life, so it could really be the light issue. If it doesn't stop even with some light in the coop I'll update here.