Pullet trying to cuddle underneath hens at bedtime. They are not amused.

eikome

Songster
7 Years
Apr 26, 2018
74
172
141
Upstate NY
One of my new pullets, who is at the very bottom of the pecking order, is having trouble finding a roost spot at bedtime. The problem is, she keeps trying to shove herself underneath the hens that have already settled, causing them to get upset and kick her off. She's tried sleeping in the nest boxes a few times, and I want to avoid that. There's plenty of room for her I think (8ft of roost for 6 standard hens, and they don't use the full length). She doesn't have a problem finding empty space on the bar, but she seems like she wants cuddles? Will she learn to not to cuddle underneath the other hens eventually? Or should I consider adding more roost space anyway?
 
How old is the pullet? Hens? Is she the only pullet?
You could try placing her between two hens/pullets, she'll get it eventually. They do have their own roosting order, than I've learned.
She's 7 months (27 weeks). There are 2 other pullets the same age. The 3 older hens will be 2 years in April.

When they're roosting the older ladies tend to go to one end, and the two pullets to the other. She tries to squeeze under both groups and neither let her.
 
I have a couple that do this and when they do it, it seems more like they're trying to get by them, whether that means knocking them off or just going underneath them to get in a different desired position. Obviously they can't get under them to get to the other side of the bird, but honestly, I don't think they know this, they're just trying to take a shortcut and avoid jumping down and then squeezing in, where they want to be. This is always followed by some obvious high pitched fussing shrills by the bird that is satisfied with their spot. The pullets in this flock are all within a week of each other's age. The cockerels have done it too, but they don't do it much as they get a little older.
Wishing you all the best with your flock!
 
Hard to know what the heck she is doing, might be trying to get by or go under another bird to feel 'safer'. Have seen older birds do this as well.
She could be low bird and may always struggle to find her place on the roost.
Does she eventually settle somewhere?
Probably best to just leave them to it.
 
I have a couple that do this and when they do it, it seems more like they're trying to get by them, whether that means knocking them off or just going underneath them to get in a different desired position. Obviously they can't get under them to get to the other side of the bird, but honestly, I don't think they know this, they're just trying to take a shortcut and avoid jumping down and then squeezing in, where they want to be.

This might be it. She seems like she doesn't want to be on the end/outside of the group, and wants to be in the middle, but can't figure out how to get in there. And nobody really wants to let her in since she's at the bottom of the pecking order. Oh well. Sounds like they'll eventually work it out.
 

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