Chicken poop in nest box

[dawnblancaflor]

Hi all, I'm a newbie. Our chickens just started laying eggs but not in their nesting box. We made some adjustments and yesterday, we got one egg in the nesting box. But also, a lot of poop. The girls seem to be pooping the box instead of elsewhere. Is that normal? what should I do? Thanks!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

How long have they had access to the nest boxes? If the boxes have been open to them since the time they were put in the coop (weeks before laying age) they have likely come to see the boxes more as sleeping/roosting areas than laying areas. Speaking of roosting - how much available roost space is in your coop and is it higher or lower than the nest boxes?

ETA - also, are they confined to the coop or do they have access to a run or free range during the day?

 

[PrairieChickens]

The poop is probably happening at night. Odds are you have chickens roosting in the nesting boxes instead of on the roosts. Go out after dark and move any chickens that are roosting on the boxes onto the roosts instead. Repeat this every night until they break the habit. Also, putting dummy eggs in the nesting boxes will help the hens figure out that there is where they ought to lay.