Ok to Sleep on Coop Floor If Hen Can't Perch??

[jessalee]

Hello! I have a wyandotte pullet with neurological damage. She is mobile, but not very graceful on her feet. As a result, she has taken to sleeping in the nesting box rather than on the roost bar. I've begun blocking off the nesting box at night and even built her a special roost bar- one that is wider (easier to balance) and only 3-5" off the coop floor (more accessible)- but she has no interest and has now taken to sleeping on the coop floor. I've also tried sneaking out to the coop at night to place her on the roost bar, but she won't stay. The rest of the flock has been roosting without issue.

I have concerns about her viability in the winter months. Since she sleeps on the coop floor, she ends up sleeping on top of her own poo/urine, which I'm sure is not healthy. Additionally, I live in Wisconsin, so I think keeping her bum dry in the winter months will be an important factor to prevent frostbite.

My questions are:
(1) do people have any other ideas for helping her roost?
(2) is it okay to let just her sleep on the coop floor?
(3) if it is not ok for her to sleep on the floor AND I can't get her to roost, what do I do?

Thanks in advance!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I would try a lower roost and maybe a wider roost for her.
If necessary, I would make sure the area on the ground is always dry and cleaned everyday.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have a special needs bird that is unable to make it onto the roost and will just plop down wherever, but if we manually place her on it (not a low roost, but a normal height one - she will NOT stay on a lower one) she usually sticks on it through the night, judging by coop cam and location of droppings.

If it really is impossible to get her to stick on the roost, you could potentially give up a nest box (the one she's used to) for her to use at night. I'd try to dissuade the others from laying in there by removing any fake eggs, maybe reducing padding or bedding material a little.