Roosting Question

[Pinky]

It's probably what centrarchid said or she wants to be the first down in the morning, maybe?

 

[Judy]

It's often claimed on here that they would rather be on the wide than the narrow side of a 2x4. That said, I'd let her sleep where she wants, as long as it's not in the nest box.

I have a BO who for some reason slept on a wide shelf for a few months. I left her alone. Now she has returned to the roost, where she used to sleep. I have no idea why, there was no change in the flock during that time.

 

[mkearsley]

I've got four hens. They used to all sleep in one corner, two shoved into the "nest box" we made, and two in front. I've never found an egg in the "nest box," but my Polish got used to laying her eggs right in the corner where she sleeps. Recently, one of the birds, my Black Star, (she lost her near-top dog place when she was gone for a month healing from a dog attack), has decided to actually use the roosts (2"x2") we put next to the nest boxes. Although, it seems like she sleeps in a different location every night! Sometimes, she's in the "nest box" above the other two, sometimes she's on the roost, sometimes she's actually on the nest where they all lay their eggs. My Polish & cochin are both hatchery birds (got them when they were 10 mo. old or so), so I think that due to limited space, they got used to sleeping on the floor. My Black Star & Wydonnette were both chicks when I got them, so I think they're just following what the older birds do. I've just been letting them sleep where-ever they want to. They do seem to "nap" on the wood I've placed throughout the yard to protect my flowers from them. They aren't stupid enough to sleep in an uncomfortable position if they have the option to sleep otherwise.

 

[mychookschick]

As long as it isn't really cold (which you said it didn't get cold there) then I would let her sleep by herself. I have a BO who likes to sleep by himself but it gets extremely cold here so I have to move him to the roost with everyone else. I also have a few Golden Comet (sexlink) hens who like to roost in the top of the nestboxes and that is a big no-no so, every night I move them to the roost to keep warm.

 

[HEChicken]

Quote:
I would rotate it so they can roost on the 4" side if I were you. Unlike some smaller birds, whose feet are adapted to hold onto thin tree branches, chickens are ground dwelling animals who are more comfortable on a surface on which they don't need to "hang on". Also, by allowing their feet to be flat, they can cover them better to keep them warm - probably more of a consideration in colder climates than yours.