4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Bondinho]

One of my chooks has decided she would prefer to sleep on the highest perch in the run rather than go inside the cube with the others! At the moment I've having to go out and pester her by stroking her with the door pin so that she will jump into the house.

 

Is it worth me doing this every night? Or will she actually be ok sleeping out there? It's so cold at the moment I can't believe it is good for her.... A couple of nights ago my black silkie, Olga, felt sorry for her and stayed with her on the perch util I shooed them both in!

 

On a side note, can you believe both my silkies are still laying every other day or so! Thought they would have stopped in October time.

[Gamebird]

The pheasants in my garden sleep outside in the branches on their own and they survive the freezing nights. But looking at the size of them I suspect they have a good layer of insulating fat.

 

Is there a reason why she won't go in the house? Is she being bullied or are there some red mite lurking?

[Bondinho]

No, there are no red mite - she is 2nd/3rd in the pecking order too and my lot barely argue about anything anyway, I very rarely see any bossing about unless there is a worm involved!

 

I think she just enjoys the perching aspect to be honest. Perhaps this is a down side to the cubes roosting bars. I'll have to see if I can modify the cube to include a perch inside maybe and see if she goes inside then.

[Janty]

One of my brahmas periodically goes through phases of perching outside. The only problem with that is that she hates having breakfast late and shouts if I get up late.

[Snowy]

Mine seem to take it in turns to sleep outside on the branches. I thought they would all go in now it is colder at night, but they huddle up together and seem fine! It is quite sheltered I suppose as they have cover above and on two sides - seems as though they just doing what comes naturally to them! They have enough room to go inside if they get too cold