10 week Olds taken to sleeping in nest box

[garyclay]

Hi,

My 10 week old chickens have taken to sleeping in one of the nest boxes.

Is this OK or should I stop it??

 

[Newchickenmom&kids]

definately need to stop it...block them or remove them. If you let them do this...after laying the eggs will be poopy and more of a chance that they will get broken!

 

[chickflick]

Yeah, what she said........

 

[FamilyOfChickens]

Same, close off the nesting boxes so they get used to sleeping on their perches. I just did this with my 4 month olds last night because they kept sleeping in the nesting boxes. Just make sure there's enough perch space for everyone.

 

[SunnySideUp]

I'm having the same problem, only mine have recently started laying. All five hens will cram into our two nest boxes! Last night I blocked off the nest boxes and somehow our RIR got in and layed an egg before we opened up the nest boxes. Obviously she needed to get in.

I'm wondering if we should continue blocking it off until they figure it out or if anyone has other suggestions.

Thanks

 

[garyclay]

OK all blocked off, will give them a few weeks or so to get used to the set up before removing the partition.

 

[rosyposyosy]

i put basket balls in mine

 

[silkiechicken]

To get my birds to sleep in different places I just go out there every night and put them in the right place. Strangely enough, my bird's never had a nest box sleeping problem... and when they do sleep in the lay box... they poo only in one area and the eggs sit up on a straw nest thing nice and clean.

 

[GoodEgg]

Quote:
I'm sorry, but this one had me rolling. I don't know why ... I just picture some hen walking up to the nest box and seeing a basketball in there and saying something like "Excuse me, are you finished in there yet?"

I wanna see those basketballs ... with little beaks and wattles added!

(maybe I have a weird sense of humor or something, but this really just struck me as funny!)

trish