Roosting order

[Jlgonzo]

My chickens slowly started roosting around 16 weeks and it took a several more before they all were roosting. I have read that they roost in the same spot every night, so it makes it easy to check the health of their poop knowing where each one roosts. Now they are around 25 weeks and I have found that one more or less is in the same spot but all of the others move around. Do they eventually get into a routine of roosting in the same place nightly?

 

[JedJackson]

I've never heard of this, but I think it would be too difficult to manage to be worthwhile. Chickens aren't exactly easy to train, food rewards being the best method I know of, and I don't see that being practical with roosting. Also, they don't do target practice when they poop, so it could easily get mixed up with another bird's poop.

Really, the best way to check health is to keep tabs on the birds themselves. Any that looks ill or out of sorts can be isolated, and its dropping checked that way.

 

[Wezdin]

I have noticed there is some order but they it randomly change roost spots for no apparent reason.

 

[MissChick@dee]

At 16 weeks their still very young. Establishing their pecking order is still going on. I have one alfa chicken and she gets the spot she wants. The others have to figure out where to sleep. And if she changes her mind...well the others have to go thru the “let’s shuffle spots”. Although they usually have a favorite spot or buddy to roost with many factors can shift that. Cold weather for one...who snuggles who?
And yes night time IS the best time to pick a chicken off the roosts. For health checks or to administer medicine etc.
Sounds like you’re a aware chicken owner! Good for you! Hope this helps. Best wishes

 

[Ridgerunner]

Mine often roost in the same general area each night but on a daily basis they can move around some. Depending on the season they can change locations quite a bit. During colder weather they tend to sleep closer together. In hot weather they really spread out but I have a lot of room.

Where they sleep is partly determined buy the pecking order. The highest in the pecking order gets to sleep wherever they want. The others make do with what is left. Yours at 25 weeks are probably still maturing some. Yo might see some changes in the pecking order as they mature. Don't be surprised to see some shuffling because of that.

I have no doubts that some people see a regular pattern in where they sleep, especially with a smaller flock or a smaller coop. But about the only thing I see consistent with chickens is that they are inconsistent. You can't say every flock on earth will do the same thing because they won't. Each chicken is an individual with its own personality. Each flock has its own dynamics and that can change if you change one individual or as one matures.

Have fun observing yours, experience is a great teacher. The difference in individuals is a big part of making chicken TV better than about anything on cable, antenna, or satellite.

 

[Morrigan]

Only my two most senior chickens a 6 year old hen and rooster sleep in the same spot each night. The rest move around a bit unpredictably. They all seem to have their favorite spots . . . until they don't. It's kind of like the nest boxes. Everyone absolutely must lay in the same box until someday they all decide another box is better.

 

[aart]

My birds change roosting order up pretty regularly.
Some will choose the same (usually uncontested) place,
others fully engage in the RoostTimeRumble to try to get close to that handsome Willie.

But about the only thing I see consistent with chickens is that they are inconsistent.

Boy, that's for sure!!

I have read that they roost in the same spot every night, so it makes it easy to check the health of their poop knowing where each one roosts.

Do you use a poop board under your roosts?
Keeping an eye on poops can indeed teach you about your flocks health, but hard to winnow it down to individual birds unless you watch where they are at night then very early in the morning. I have done this when I see consistent abnormal poops, then put that bird(s) in a crate for closer observation.

 

[Jlgonzo]

My birds change roosting order up pretty regularly.
Some will choose the same (usually uncontested) place,
others fully engage in the RoostTimeRumble to try to get close to that handsome Willie.


Boy, that's for sure!!

Do you use a poop board under your roosts?
Keeping an eye on poops can indeed teach you about your flocks health, but hard to winnow it down to individual birds unless you watch where they are at night then very early in the morning. I have done this when I see consistent abnormal poops, then put that bird(s) in a crate for closer observation.

I do have poop boards for the ease of cleaning.

 

[MissChick@dee]

My birds change roosting order up pretty regularly.
Some will choose the same (usually uncontested) place,
others fully engage in the RoostTimeRumble to try to get close to that handsome Willie.


Boy, that's for sure!!

Do you use a poop board under your roosts?
Keeping an eye on poops can indeed teach you about your flocks health, but hard to winnow it down to individual birds unless you watch where they are at night then very early in the morning. I have done this when I see consistent abnormal poops, then put that bird(s) in a crate for closer observation.

Very true about the poop!
I do not have a lot of chickens. I clean my poop everyday and I take notice. Something that might be helpful..if you’re watching for them to lay. Their poop is huge! Or if you suspect egg binding they are tiny. And if they are not eating like they should again they are tiny. Many many things can be learned from knowing who slept where and looking at their poo.

 

[aart]

Their poop is huge! Or if you suspect egg binding they are tiny.

True that layer poop is not the cute little pullet poops...
....tiny poops do not necessarily indicate egg binding.