any ideas to help?

[chickenlover237]

Ok, so here is the issue. We are first time chicken owners and didn't exactly know what we were doing when we built my coop, so the nest boxes are higher than the roost bars, my hens and rooster sleep IN the nest boxes and so the hens won't lay in some of the boxes because of how dirty they get, is there some way I can keep them from sleeping in the nest boxes? a few of them lay their eggs before i get up, any ideas?

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I would do whatever you can to adjust the coop so that the roost bar is higher or the boxes are lower otherwise this will be an uphill battle. You can try just putting them on the roost each night. If that isn't enough I would block off the boxes right before bedtime and open them up again first thing in the morning so that sleeping in them is not an option. Once they have a new routine of sleeping on the roosts you can stop blocking.

 

[debid]

You can't train away instinct so you'll need to make the roost more appealing than the nests somehow. Take some photos of your setup so we can suggest changes with the least hassle and expense.

 

[azygous]

I have this problem with a few of my youngest layers. They are so low in the pecking order, they try to tuck themselves into the nest boxes to avoid the competition on the roosting perch.

I solved it with some galvanized fencing propped up against the nest box openings at night. I remove it at first light in the morning. A few of the girls are ready to hop right in and get down to business. They are capable of holding the egg in for a while if they need to.

If you find too many eggs on the floor in the morning, it could mean you're sleeping in way too long.

 

[chickenlover237]

Ok, thanks guys, i'll try and get some pictures soon i'm usually up between 8:00 and 10:00, depending on what day of the week

 

[debid]

I have this problem with a few of my youngest layers. They are so low in the pecking order, they try to tuck themselves into the nest boxes to avoid the competition on the roosting perch.

I solved it with some galvanized fencing propped up against the nest box openings at night. I remove it at first light in the morning. A few of the girls are ready to hop right in and get down to business. They are capable of holding the egg in for a while if they need to.

If you find too many eggs on the floor in the morning, it could mean you're sleeping in way too long.

Wow. Some people work nights and sleeping until 8 or 10 is how it has to be. Let's concentrate on fixing where the chickens sleep rather than when their keeper does.

 

[chickenlover237]

Yeah, i can't do hardly anything without my dad's ok, currently we are making an area where they can roam outside the run and coop, otherwise they have to range in the yard and that is getting irritating, they won't lay any eggs unless we let them out of the run during the day.

 

[donrae]

I have this problem with a few of my youngest layers. They are so low in the pecking order, they try to tuck themselves into the nest boxes to avoid the competition on the roosting perch.

I solved it with some galvanized fencing propped up against the nest box openings at night. I remove it at first light in the morning. A few of the girls are ready to hop right in and get down to business. They are capable of holding the egg in for a while if they need to.

If you find too many eggs on the floor in the morning, it could mean you're sleeping in way too long.

Yeah, you might want to rethink that sleeping in too long comment. That's just uncalled for.

To the OP, for a temp fix can you block off the nest boxes all together and set up nesting areas on the ground? My nest areas are rubbermaid totes on the ground with some hay in them. My girls love them. They're low, you can set them upright or lay them over on their side for a little more secluded feel, but keep in mind if you lay them over someone's going to perch on them and poop will build up.

Any changes you make will freak your girls out for a while, just do what you need to and then leave them alone for a while, let them get used to the new things.

 

[chickenlover237]

thanks donrae, the coop is built with a truck topper and the nest boxes are directly infront of the door of what would be the back, easy collection without having to go in the run. they already won't lay anywhere else, the first time they laid an egg it was in the nest box, i've tried making them lay somewhere else but they refuse and i just end up with broken eggs my chickens are really weird.