Sleeping in nest box

Date sort Score sort
fmk

fmk

In the Brooder
10 Years
Apr 26, 2009
29
0
32
Ballyhire
Some of my hens are sleeping in & soiling their nest box at night. The others roost on the roosting bars in the coop. They have plenty of room - any suggestions?
 
Remove them from the nests when they are going nighty nite. Place them on the roosts with the others. Possibly block off access with whatever so they don't crowd in when it is time for them to go to sleep. Most likely your roosts are sufficiently higher than your nest boxes, making that roost area more desirable. If not then lower nests or raise roosts. Often, chickens will choose nests to sleep in due to harassment by more dominant chickens on the roost.
WISHING YOU BEST
thumbsup.gif
 
In my mixed flock I had 2 SS that were at the bottom of the pecking order. It took me a while to figure it out but they were sleeping in the nesting boxes because a couple of Black Australorps were harassing them whenever they would try to roost.

Once I got rid of the BA's, the SS went back to sleeping on the roosts (and the other girls were happier too).

It might take some time to closely observe what's going on with your flock's dynamics. Maybe some bullying going on?

You could try adding more roosts to see if that would help.
 

Similar threads

R
    • Like
My Hen Sleeping/pooping in nesting box
2
Replies
11
Views
2K
Rookie chicken gal
R
V
Hen sleeping in nesting box
Replies
1
Views
931
Tonyroo
Tonyroo
C
    • Like
New hens sleeping in nesting boxes instead of roosting bars
Replies
3
Views
1K
AbbeLange
A
R
3yr old hen sleeping in the nesting box
2
Replies
14
Views
2K
rcm1201
R
Jstaz
Roosting Jersey Giant
2
Replies
11
Views
1K
The Brick Coop
The Brick Coop

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom