Sleeping pecking order

[dinksmom]

My dominate hen sleeps on top of one of my other hens every night. I lift her off when I close them up for the night but wonder how I can stop this behavior somehow. I feel so bad for my other hen. How do I bring my dominate down a peg...?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

I've never known a chicken to do that. How strange. Is there plenty of roosting space? Maybe try placing them both on separate roosts as far apart as possible.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

Are you sure the other hen isn't trying to squeeze under the dominant one? Some chickens are insecure and want to be mothered. You can find nearly mature chicks, trying to get under the mother and in some cases she will encourage it.

 

[NickyKnack]

Hello!

Welcome to BYC and the coop! There's a lot of great peeps here! Feel free to ask lots of questions. But most of all, make yourself at home. I'm so glad you decided to join the BYC family. I look forward to seeing you around BYC.
That's very interesting and I hope you can resolve the problem.

 

[dinksmom]

To clarify my original post, the hens are not roosting but sleeping in their nesting boxes when this happens, one on top of the other. When its colder they use the nesting boxes to sleep. And I have ample boxes!

 

[nj2wv]

welcome to BYC !!