Chickens roosting in nesting boxes

[jpalmatier83]

Hmmm....... Did not know the roosts should be higher than the nest boxes. They are about the same height. I'll have to figure out a way to re-position them as this is a prefab coop.

Yes, chickens like to sleep in/on the highest place possible. If that just happens to be the nesting boxes instead of the roost bar...

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I have a few girls that started this recently. They used to roost on the bars but switched to the nest boxes. They don't make too horrible a mess. I scoop it out of the pine shavings in the morning. Is this bad for them or is it more about pooping where they lay?
They are 3+ so I thought it was a comfort thing. It's a bit inconvenient but if it's not harmful I'll get over it.

 

[jpalmatier83]

That seems strange... In my (limited) experience Chickens really do try to sleep in the highest place possible. It's a defensive thing, the closer to the ground they are the easier for predators to get to them. I don't know why they would go from regularly roosting to sleeping in a lower box...

As far as comfort is concerned, what type of material is the roosting bar? I've heard of chickens having trouble getting traction on some types of roosts. Ideal roosts are something like a 2x4 laid on its side or a substantial branch, something they can really get their feet on/around. Narrow dowels, slippery material, and the like are less desirable.

If the coop is secure and no possible issues with animals getting in from the bottom, I would think it's just an issue of them pooping where they lay and not "bad for them".

 

[ccrow]

My young ones usually roost in the nest boxes for awhile; if they don't start getting on the roost after a couple weeks, I start putting them there when I go to close them up for the night. I have a dedicated leather garden glove for getting droppings out of the nest boxes every morning in the meantime.

I think it's partly that they don't want to be too close to those mean older girls! My SLW in particular is making very sure they know they are low on the totem pole.

Here's my current 'problem' with their roosting choice:


Silly birds.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

That seems strange... In my (limited) experience Chickens really do try to sleep in the highest place possible. It's a defensive thing, the closer to the ground they are the easier for predators to get to them. I don't know why they would go from regularly roosting to sleeping in a lower box...

As far as comfort is concerned, what type of material is the roosting bar? I've heard of chickens having trouble getting traction on some types of roosts. Ideal roosts are something like a 2x4 laid on its side or a substantial branch, something they can really get their feet on/around. Narrow dowels, slippery material, and the like are less desirable.

If the coop is secure and no possible issues with animals getting in from the bottom, I would think it's just an issue of them pooping where they lay and not "bad for them".

Roosts are 2x4 and some branches too. No one likes the branches. LOL Roosts are about 5 ft off the floor. They must have decided they like a cushy bed over a roost.