Why is she sleeping in the nest box?

[black_cat]

I forgot to check for mites and lice, but last night I took a picture of them. You can see Ruth in the box. It's on my phone so I'll post it later.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

She may have just found out that sleeping in a comfy best box is more comfy than sitting on a perch. Sometimes I find poop in some of my nest boxes.

 

[Trisseh]

It’s really stinking cold here this week, (-30 C before windchill, which brings it to -41) and I have a dramatic silkie that would prefer to sleep in the nest box instead of up on the roosts when it’s “too” cold. Nobody else does it, only her, and only when it’s cold. Lol. The other silkie who thought it was a good idea to start molting in January is doing just fine up on the roost with everyone else. Chickens are so weird.

 

[black_cat]

It’s really stinking cold here this week, (-30 C before windchill, which brings it to -41) and I have a dramatic silkie that would prefer to sleep in the nest box instead of up on the roosts when it’s “too” cold. Nobody else does it, only her, and only when it’s cold. Lol. The other silkie who thought it was a good idea to start molting in January is doing just fine up on the roost with everyone else. Chickens are so weird.

I would expect silkies to avoid roosts because of their lack of feathers to fly up to them.

 

[Trisseh]

I would expect silkies to avoid roosts because of their lack of feathers to fly up to them.

My roosts aren’t super high, (maybe 18-20” at most? Nest box is on the floor) everyone can get up on there and usually do. It’s just when it’s colder than normal that she says NOPE! It’s bizarre.

 

[BleuSaphir]

Is she sleeping there perhaps to extra warmth?

 

[black_cat]

Is she sleeping there perhaps to extra warmth?

Maybe, it has been quite cold lately. However, I am reluctant to heat the coop because of cost, risk of a power outage, and fire risk.

 

[Carson213]

My girls will not sleep anywhere near windows; fear of predators. They want to roost in a safe dark area. I had to cover my coop windows to get them to roost on the roost bars.

i have the open “windows” spaced between the height of the roosts and the boxes. the roosts are at 6-7 feet, the boxes are at 3 feet and the windows are at 4.5 feet...but the windows are facing east.

 

[Carson213]

Maybe, it has been quite cold lately. However, I am reluctant to heat the coop because of cost, risk of a power outage, and fire risk.

chickens don’t need a heater. they huddle together.

 

[black_cat]

chickens don’t need a heater. they huddle together.

I know, that's why I'm not getting one.