Weird sleeping behaviour

[Poah]

Hey everyone!

Have had chickens now for over a year and have started noticing that one my hens is opting to sleep in a nesting box and not up on a roosting bar.

All four of my hens are moltong so they’re just crooked as sin but this one, seemingly, appears to be at the bottom of the pecking order. Anytime she hops up on a bar, the other peck at her feet or back of the head.

I can get her out of the box and she does jump up on a bar but, yeah…she recently she started sleeping out in one of the boxes. It’s weird.

Like, should I just put stuff in the boxes to discourage her from going in it.

She don’t seem sick. All four are pretty lively.

Thanks all!

 

[Debbie292d]

It sounds like she's sleeping in the nest box to avoid being picked on? Do they only pick on her when she's roosting?

We have silkies so are used to a couple of the hens preferring to sleep in a nest box.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Her low rank plus discomfort from molting is likely the reason she's opting for the nests. Are any of them still laying at this point? If you still do get eggs, then cover the boxes before dusk and uncover once it's completely dark. If not, you can cover up the nests until daylight hours start increasing again.

 

[Mrs. K]

Coop size? Molting birds do like more space. You could use a piece of cardboard and some duct tape to make a mini wall and section off the roost. So that when she roosts no one can see her to peck.

It does not have to be forever, just to get through this. You will probably have to put her up there.

It is such a mess in the nest and all over them when they roost in the nest.

Mrs K

 

[Lizzyduff]

Mine do this when they moult as well. They don't seem to want anyone to touch them when they are all prickly, much less be pecked or jostled as part of the usual night routine, and the best spot to avoid that is the nest boxes. I usually just let them go in to avoid stress... then after dark i go in and move them to a solo perch. I've also added more perches and the cardboard dividers are very helpful too but like was mentioned, will have to put her there. I've attached a photo of one of the weird sleeping arrangements my girls do sometimes. Sigh.