The Poultry Keeper

Mooncottagecats · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Cumbria

Hi all, it is great reading your posts and very helpful. But a quick question please. I have kept hens in the past and have never had the problem I am encountering with one of my new flock of pol Marans (love that cheeky Mojo in France!). Two have just started laying in the last couple of days in fact in spite of the cold. However one of the girls who is laying will not stay on the perch in the coop. I put her up with the others and she just gets down again and puts herself in a corner next to the nest boxes.Every night after dark I put her back up and a couple of hours later down she is again. Is it harmful to her? Each morning where she has been lying is a small pile of shit which of course I clear out but other than that is is actually bad for her not be on a perch? Thanks and look forward to your help - Mooncottagecats Rolling Eyes

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

No, it won't hurt them not to perch. I have some that perch, some that sleep in the nest boxes and some that curl up in the corner on the floor. To each their own I guess.

Knobby · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 6:23 pm Post subject:

debcat · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 6:34 pm Post subject:

Same as Deb,
Mine are in a barn, some right up in the rafters, some where they are meant to be and some on the floor or window cills.
they've even been known to perch on the ponies back Confused

if they are happy where they are thats ok with me Very Happy

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Only one of mine has ever perched - and now it's cold she doesn't bother and just snuggles up with the others in one of the nest boxes.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

same as everyone else really. Most of mine perched, except 3 bantams they have always snuggled up together in a corner ~ or in a nestbox if I forget to cover them! 2 young pekins ~ 5.5 mths usually snuggle in the other corner but I have put them on the perch a couple of times and they haven't jumped off immediately so maybe they stay?? Orpington similar age always squats on the floor as does the baby orp.
I think it's wherever they are hapiest that matters. There's always a bit of concern though if you have some perching and some not, will the unperched ones come out with an addition to the hair do? If they are on the perch they will obviously stay cleaner and if they squat they may get a little poo attached to the feathers.
I let them do what they're happiest with.

mojo · Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 2:33 am Post subject:

put a heap of bedding on the floor for her .........floors came before perches..........luv mojo

Mooncottagecats · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Cumbria

Hey that is fantastic and thank you so much for the reassurance - I will now leave her in peace then and it was great to see you all in there, wow!
cheers Marilyn from the freezing foggy North West

jooles · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:28 am Post subject:

Thanks for this question Marilyn, I was going to ask the same thing this morning. My four original hybrids have never perched at night - although they love the perch in their run during the day - and then Summayah's girls arrived and two of them were straight on the perch at night, which got me thinking maybe I should encourage the others to do the same. But they look so happy all snuggled up together in the corner, I didn't want to disturb them.

Having read the replies here I'll just leave them to do whatever they want to at night. I'm relieved. Very Happy