layers sleeping in laying boxes

[firem3]

I have five laying hens that came from a relative. they were totally free range chickens. I have put them in a pen and have them laying eggs however they want to sleep in the laying box. I provide them a nice place to sleep, how do i keep them out of the laying box at night short of blocking it so they cant get in it?

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

do you have roosting sticks or boards? if so are they higher than the boxes

 

[firem3]

yes I do have roost's they are starting from about 2' off the ground to about 5' high in a staggered ladder design so they can jump from one to the other. the highest is around 2 1/2 to 3 feet above the box.

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Quote:
Man I dont know , Maybe they never had them before(roosts). Block them(the boxes) for a night or two and see if that helps.

 

[CarriBrown]

Mine do the same thing, too, and I've just learned to live with it.

Sort of. I can't say I love cleaning out poopy nests.

 

[joanc]

My hens grew out of sleeping in the nests once they started laying. Hopefully yours will too if they have roosts to perch on. Good luck.

 

[bigzio]

Yep, not only is it a pain to clean out the nest boxes, you also have a good chance of soiled eggs instead of nice clean ones, which is much nicer.
I would either block them off at night for a couple weeks or physically take the birds and place them on the roosts at dark until they get the idea. Good Luck...

bigzio

 

[Blisschick]

I've never had a problem with nesting boxes, but I do have some that still insist on sleeping on the ground like chicks. It's kind of weird, because they'll instinctively roost once they reach a certain age. My Jersey roo is almost two, and he sleeps on the ground under the roost by the hens.

The only time I can't get mine out the nesting boxes is when they're broody and won't take the hint they're not on any eggs.

 

[SimplcitiyAltered]

Mine do it all the time no detering them its not like they dont have ample space to roost because I sure gave them plenty I have learned to deal with it they have been doing it for years. I just make sure I use straw in thier nest makes the cleaning a lot more easier.

 

[nccountrygirl]

Quote:
My JGiant hen also sleeps on the floor, I think she is too big to get on the roost and I've read somewhere that they can't fly.