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Chickens sleeping in laying boxes :( help

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by Mountain Wampus, Oct 22, 2013.

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  1. Oct 22, 2013 #1
    Mountain Wampus

    Mountain Wampus Out Of The Brooder

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    I have a group of birds who like to sleep in the egg laying boxes. I believe it's because they are lowest on the pecking order and didn't want the hassle of finding a safe sleeping spot so they just stayed low.

    There are plenty of roosts and fewer and fewer birds around as I cull down for winter so now there is no excuses for them, but how do I encourage them to sleep elsewhere while keeping laying boxes open for business? Would curtains do it?

    Thanks
     
  3. Oct 22, 2013 #2
    ChickenCanoe

    ChickenCanoe Chicken Obsessed

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    Could they be broody? Are they coming out during the day? Are the nests lower than the roosts?
    If they aren't broody and roosts are higher, I would run the birds out and block off the nests at dusk. Open them back up at dawn.
    A couple days of this usually does the trick.
     
  5. Oct 22, 2013 #3
    Kelsie2290

    Kelsie2290 True BYC Addict Premium Member

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    X2, sometimes low ranking birds especially get into this habit. Blocking the nests they like to sleep in in the evening and and putting the birds up on the roosts for a few days usually breaks them of the habit. Also be sure the sleeping roosts are easy to get onto, ladder or something, some birds are not good at just flying up onto a perch initially.
     
  7. Oct 22, 2013 #4
    Mountain Wampus

    Mountain Wampus Out Of The Brooder

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    They aren't broody, it's purely for sleeping. The boxes are the easiest / 1st thing to get up on though all the roost area is easy for them to get up on.
     
  9. Oct 23, 2013 #5
    WalkingOnSunshine

    WalkingOnSunshine Overrun With Chickens

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    You're probably right about the reason, and now it's a habit.

    I think you're already doing this based on your question, but one of the best ways to prevent sleeping in the nests is to keep the nest boxes lower than the perches. The birds will find the highest areas. Otherwise, you may have to block the nest boxes at night.

    I always have to kick a few out of the boxes every evening. They're comfy!
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2013
  11. Oct 23, 2013 #6
    Mountain Wampus

    Mountain Wampus Out Of The Brooder

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    Thank you, I believe I'll have to kick em out at night, put piece of wood over the boxes till morning. The boxes are by far lower than any roost, they're just lazy and comfy in those insulated boxes at this point. lol
     

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