Chickens hanging out in nest boxes

[Kristy A.]

I have a two story coop for my girls. The bottom is their run where their feeders are and the top is where their roost and nest boxes are. They are 17 weeks old and over the last couple of weeks have started hanging out in their nest boxes during the day. They aren't laying eggs yet so why are they doing this and what should I do to get them to stop?

 

[peterlund]

Properly vented? If the only run is u der the coop, then they might prefer being up high, rather than under something..... who knows. I would love to see a photo of the coop/run.
Welcome aboard. Have fun.

 

[Kristy A.]

It's vented, shaded, and we added a fan on the fence to add circulation since we are in Texas and it's HHOOTT!!! I've read they shouldn't sleep in the boxes but I can't really find anything on them hanging out in them during the day.

 

[peterlund]

It's vented, shaded, and we added a fan on the fence to add circulation since we are in Texas and it's HHOOTT!!! I've read they shouldn't sleep in the boxes but I can't really find anything on them hanging out in them during the day.

Beautiful coop... maybe the breeze is better up high? I would try to mount a roost pole somewhere in the run... they just might want to chill during the heat of the day. We dont get your heat up here in New England. Mine still like it outside 99% of the time. Good luck.

 

[aart]

They may be getting ready to lay and are checking out the nests.
Is the nest bedding all messed up?

 

[Kristy A.]

They may be getting ready to lay and are checking out the nests.
Is the nest bedding all messed up?

I think they are still too young to lay just yet. The bedding is messed up with little poops!

 

[aart]

What breed are they?
Any other signs, reddening combs and wattles....squatting?
Are they sleeping in the nests too?

 

[Kristy A.]

Their combs and wattles are still small and pale. They sleep on their roost at night for sure. It's just during the day they've started hanging out in them. Maybe they don't like their fan. It's on the fence behind the coop. It's just so hot here in Texas and they have their mouths open and wings up a little so we got them a fan.
We have a brown leghorn, Plymouth barred rock, and a golden comet. They are 17 weeks.

 

[azygous]

They are likely approaching point of lay. In the weeks prior to laying the first eggs, pullets like to familiarize themselves with the nest boxes. I call it "playing house". They usually dig out the nest material, flip it up and over themselves, making a horrible mess.

They tire of the game and leave, and maybe next day or a few days later, they are back in the nest boxes making another big mess.

Over the ten years of keeping chickens, I've learned to tolerate this behavior, clean up the mess, and be patient knowing I'll be rewarded with first eggs before too long.

 

[debid]

That's what I'm thinking as well -- I call it scouting but that's a very typical pullet behavior. If the fan is blowing hard, switch it to low and see if they come out more. But, I think it's more likely they're checking out the boxes.