Chickens pooping in nests!

[VickiesChickies]

Help! My hens are roosting on the edges of the nests and pooping in them. What a mess! Can anyone help me out here???

 

[PirateGirl]

Do they have a higher roost available?

A photo of the coop interior would help people troubleshoot for you.

 

[blackdog043]

What PirateGirl said & Their roost bar should be higher (12") than the nest box.

 

[ChickNanny13]

3x Their roost needs to be higher than the nest box. Oh yes put a poop board under the roost, easy clean & maintenance.

 

[chickens really]

Block off the nest boxes at night...That way you can train them to use the roost....Maybe your roost is not comfortable ?....I use 2x4s flat side up...Then they can lay up there ....

 

[PirateGirl]

Or maybe there is a draft they are avoidingz

 

[ChickNanny13]

A pic of the roost & nest box location would help. 2x chickens really & PirateGirl

 

[chickens really]

This is my Roost and nest boxes..

 

[lazy gardener]

I see your problem: Roosts are too low. And top roost, which is the only one they would use b/c of bird preference is too close to back wall. (mine are 15" from back wall, which IMO is still a bit tight.) You could move nest boxes down to floor level. If you keep them where they are, you might want to put more of a perch in front of them to give them a better landing strip before entering nest boxes. Not necessary, but that's my preference. It makes it easier for birds to enter nests without risk to eggs already in nest. Can you put perches on your "tall wall" so they can be higher?

 

[PirateGirl]

I see your problem: Roosts are too low. And top roost, which is the only one they would use b/c of bird preference is too close to back wall. (mine are 15" from back wall, which IMO is still a bit tight.) You could move nest boxes down to floor level. If you keep them where they are, you might want to put more of a perch in front of them to give them a better landing strip before entering nest boxes. Not necessary, but that's my preference. It makes it easier for birds to enter nests without risk to eggs already in nest. Can you put perches on your "tall wall" so they can be higher?

Agree about the top perch, 12"-18" from the wall would be ideal, enough space to spread wings and tail without bumping. My girls can never decide if the want to sleep beak to tail or all facing the same way, so they need enough space to roost either direction.