chickens pooping in nesting box area

[RParton]

I have 3 Golden Comet pullets that are 4-5 months old. None of them are laying eggs yet. I am new to chickens, so bear with me here. I bought a chicken coop kit from Home Depot and the girls seem to be fine in there. I let them out to free range everyday in the yard then close them up at night. ,They all three gather in one of the nesting boxes and seem to sleep there. I have tried placing them on the roosts and they do take hold but seems to go back to the nest box after I leave them. Every morning the nest box is littered with poo and as they have grown over the past month the poo is getting bigger. LOL. I have no problem cleaning the coop, but is this just because they're young? Will they stop it and poo elsewhere? Do they poo where they lay and sleep?
Thanks,
randal

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since they're not laying yet the nest box should've been closed off , so that they wouldn't get in the habit of hanging out in it. They should not be sleeping in it as they will poop all night, and you obviously don't want eggs rolling around in that.

What I'm guessing also is the coop might be tight on space and so they're moving into the nest box for more room, and/or the roost bar is too low in relation to the nest boxes to appeal to them. A photo or link to your coop would help.

 

[RParton]

Since they're not laying yet the nest box should've been closed off , so that they wouldn't get in the habit of hanging out in it. They should not be sleeping in it as they will poop all night, and you obviously don't want eggs rolling around in that.

What I'm guessing also is the coop might be tight on space and so they're moving into the nest box for more room, and/or the roost bar is too low in relation to the nest boxes to appeal to them. A photo or link to your coop would help.[/QUOTE
The roost bar nearest the nesting boxes is less than a foot away from the nesting boxes and it is only elevated 2 to 3 inches above the flooring tray. The other roosting bar runs parallel to the first one and about a foot away opposite the nesting area.
I went out and blocked off the nest boxes with a cardboard box. We shall see...

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is it possible to raise the roost bars any or move them further from the walls, or even take one out if just one will suffice (for 3 birds, 36" of roost space would be ideal, you can get away with a bit less if needed). By nature chickens will want to roost on the highest point possible, so a few inches off the floor isn't going to be as appealing to them. Also if the bars are too close to wall or the nest boxes they may not be able to get on them and comfortably sit on them without their faces or tails up against a wall.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Typical prefab coop issue...it's happened to many.

If you're handy....here's the best prefab coop mod I've ever seen:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1134399/help-hens-roosting-in-nest-boxes/10#post_17749535