Hens keep pooping in nest boxes

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BierHuhn said:
I have the sleeping/bathroom issue as well (I've got 2 ladies)
I've got a small coop from cconly.com. It's basically a 9-10 sq foot coop.
I bought it used (and cleaned it thoroughly).
The nest boxes and roost bars are pretty much the same height. so I made a higher roost bar in the coop so it is higher than the nest box entrance. It didn't help. Now I block off the nest boxes, but as winter approaches, I am loathe to have to do that extra outdoor duty every morning. I am hoping that this method will eventually train them, but I'm not sure if this is really possible with chickens? Any other thoughts on this scenario? I can't make the roosts an higher. should i basically modify my coop so it's just a roost area and make a separate nest box?

Thanks a bunch folks!
Click to expand...
Maybe make the roost wider...like a 2x4 wide side up??
 
Last edited:
whenever i introduce young ones to the big roost we have this issue a few days until the pecking order gets establised. go out and see what the roosting situation is at night. see who is squating in the nest boxes. adding more roosts, up higher is probably going to solve the problin. another thing you can do is make a rack or panel that closes up your roosts for the night.
 
Thanks, but because of my coop size, I can't make higher roosts. And I block the nests at night. Was just hoping to not have to do that in the long run, out every morn removing the blocking panels. But if it ends up that way, it is what it is.
 
Birds of habit, once they roost every night on the roost thats were they'll be. If there is crowding on the roost add some more, the lesser hens will be weary to roost next to the higher hens in the pecking order. Give them a few ways up also, that way they can circumnavigate the senior lady's.
 

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