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?

 

[beany_bot]

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?

No parasites, not broody, not low on the pecking order (the Wellsummers are).

OK, I'll lift the roosts. The reason they are that high is that I read not to go very high for the BO's

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

No parasites, not broody, not low on the pecking order (the Wellsummers are).

OK, I'll lift the roosts. The reason they are that high is that I read not to go very high for the BO's

Yeah, definitely want to take extra care of the heavier breeds. One of mine liked to launch off my highest roost instead of walking down.
I suppose lowering the nest box would have the same effect, but it appears to be built in so that would be like rebuilding the coop

 

[Snowbelt]

No parasites, not broody, not low on the pecking order (the Wellsummers are).

OK, I'll lift the roosts. The reason they are that high is that I read not to go very high for the BO's

My almost six year old BO's roost on top of the nesting boxes which are at 37 inches. The bars were originally at 24 inches so they preferred the higher position. I decided to change the roost bar situation to make it easier for them by putting bars at 12, 24, and 39 inches so the BO's could use them like stairs to reach the higher bars. I have new Buff Brahmas that are very heavy so I thought that would help them too. The BB's and Wyandottes love going from bar to bar to get up to the top, and then kept trying to squeeze into the rafters, so I added corner roosts at 54 inches. Those are the current favorites, with about half settling there and the other half at 39 inches on the roosting bar. But the BO's still prefer their roosting on top of the nesting boxes. I have no idea what goes on in their little chicken brains. I guess they are just set in their ways.