Always sleeping in nesting boxes

[beany_bot]

Hi, I've had my flock for about 6 months now. And almost every single night (probably 85% of the time) one or two of the girls sleep in the nesting box/es

I don't know why, and most of the time I will go in. Move them to the roost bar (a soft wood, rounded edge 3x2). And if it's dark of course they stay up there for the night. But the next night the cycle continues. I've probably manually put them on the roost bar 100 times now and they still aren't learning particularly well that's where to sleep! In fairness my wellsummers have never done it, it's only the white Sussex and one of the BOs that do it. But they definitely prefer to try and sleep in there.

What can I do?

 

[Three Stents]

some will say to block of the nesting boxes

 

[Snowbelt]

Hi, I've had my flock for about 6 months now. And almost every single night (probably 85% of the time) one or two of the girls sleep in the nesting box/es

I don't know why, and most of the time I will go in. Move them to the roost bar (a soft wood, rounded edge 3x2). And if it's dark of course they stay up there for the night. But the next night the cycle continues. I've probably manually put them on the roost bar 100 times now and they still aren't learning particularly well that's where to sleep! In fairness my wellsummers have never done it, it's only the white Sussex and one of the BOs that do it. But they definitely prefer to try and sleep in there.

What can I do?

Are your roosts higher than the boxes? My older BOs have always slept on top of the nesting boxes. I've tried moving them to the roosting bars, but they always go back to the top of the boxes. It took me a long time to realize they liked it up there because the roosting bars were lower. I got new chicks this summer and raised the roosting bars much higher, and the pullets like the top bars and always sleep there. But the senior BOs sleep on the other side of the coop on top of the boxes because they have done it for over five years.

 

[beany_bot]

some will say to block of the nesting boxes

I have done this. But it involves me both blocking off every night and unblocking every morning which isn't always possible.

 

[beany_bot]

Are your roosts higher than the boxes? My older BOs have always slept on top of the nesting boxes. I've tried moving them to the roosting bars, but they always go back to the top of the boxes. It took me a long time to realize they liked it up there because the roosting bars were lower. I got new chicks this summer and raised the roosting bars much higher, and the pullets like the top bars and always sleep there. But the senior BOs sleep on the other side of the coop on top of the boxes because they have done it for over five years.

Yes they are. Probably twice the height.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Based on that photo, your roosts appear to be too similar in height to the nest box. Guesstimating 6" higher than the nest straw.
To the birds, that's practically the same level as the roosts (personal experience with my own flock)

Those two could potentially...
- be low on the pecking order
- prefer the comfort of the nest
- be broody
- be avoiding pests (mites)

I'd recommend checking for parasites on the roosts and on their legs and bodies, and raising the roosts 6" - 12" I'd think?