Nighttime roosting

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rdsaunders

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Hello again, hope everyone is doing well.

Happy to report that three of our four girls are now laying so they are giving us a good supply of eggs.

Our coop has two roosting bars, however three of the girls insist on roosting on one at night. But our bluebell, never seems to roost at all. Each night I close them up she is snuggled down at the back of the coop near the other girls.

Is this a problem? If so what do I do about it?

Genuinely don’t think she’s bothered and tends to lay later in the morning in the nesting box.

Any thoughts of advice welcomed!


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Hi there,
My thoughts are:
The flock tends to want to roost together so Bluebell is probably a bit 'out on a limb' in that respect. At the moment. Flock dynamics can change with the seasons and so it's not a big deal really. You could try putting her on the perch with the others in the dark - they can't do anything about it in the dark and it might change habits. It's funny how, when I go into the run in the dark with a torch, just that little bit of light and they are jostling for position again.
Everyone's set up is different and makes a difference as to how important it is that they roost on the perches. I'm kind of insistent that they are on the perches because, in the warmer months, I can protect them from red mite when they are on there. I've found that you can actually get parallel perches (on the same level) quite close to each other and that allows them to be in the huddle but not in direct competition for position. One of mine (the bossiest) always finally roosts a little separate, I think, just because everyone else doesn't want to be next to her!
 
If it’s what she prefers, and you don’t mind, I don’t think there’s a problem at present except that, as Rick says, you may be better able to protect her from redmite if she’s on the perch in summer. The main problem arises if a hen sleeps in the nestbox, as her overnight poo makes the eggs dirty next morning when others go in there.
If you want to train her out of it, just do as Rick suggests and move her when they’ve all gone fully to sleep. Use a dim light so you can see what you’re doing but without waking them up. Do it for several nights until you see she’s on the perch for herself.
 
My bluebell, oddly enough, used to prefer to sleep in her nest box, until a week ago. She has now joined the others, so it is a pair on each perch now. My previous bluebell also slept in a next box. It's probably coincidence, but I am sure she thought she was a Princess :-)
 
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