Chickens Sleeping in Nesting Boxes

[NapoeleonDynamite]

Hi!
I've noticed my 2-month-old chickens sleeping in their nesting boxes, and I know they shouldn't be doing that. Their are 4 of them, and the coop has 3 nesting boxes. They have roosting bars, which they sleep on sometimes, but I don't know if they're just the wrong shape, if they're too small, or if my chickens are just persnickety. I've heard that putting a fake egg in the box will stop them from sleeping in it, which I tried, but that didn't work. The chickens prefer to roost on other beams outside the coop, which I assume is natural. Those beams are thinner and higher, so I wonder if I need to get different roosting bars and/or move them higher?
What should I do to get them to stop? Will it go away naturally?
I'll attach a picture of the inside of their coop:

The nesting boxes (yes, I know they're nasty) and a little photobomber

The roosting bars. I feel like they're too low and too chunky. Thoughts?

Boxes and bars, side by side. And a fuzzy little bum!

Two spots they prefer to roost, high above the run. I can get a better picture if needed.

The nesting boxes from a bird's-eye view (no pun intended!)
I'm new to the chicken world, so any help is appreciated!

 

[Criticalicious]

First, cover the nest boxes until they're old enough to use them to prevent them from sleeping in there. Second, yes the roost bars should be wider and higher. Did you build this coop yourself, because that style of roost is often put in pre-fabs and they're flimsy, crowded and too small. Those roosts are barely big enough for one chicken, much less two or more.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That's an easy one. The roosts need to be significantly higher than the nests.
Since they are only 2 months old, they don't need the nests right now. So block them off for another month till they obtain the habit of roosting on the roosts which should be at least 2' above the nests.

 

[aart]

Don't think 4 full grown birds are going to fit in that coop, but,
if you don't plan on a larger coop....
Here's an excellent modification to that kind of coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535

 

[NapoeleonDynamite]

First, cover the nest boxes until they're old enough to use them to prevent them from sleeping in there. Second, yes the roost bars should be wider and higher. Did you build this coop yourself, because that style of roost is often put in pre-fabs and they're flimsy, crowded and too small. Those roosts are barely big enough for one chicken, much less two or more.

We bought the coop and built it ourselves. It wasn't the greatest, but it was pretty much the only one we could find. I'll definitely work on improving it! Thanks!

 

[NapoeleonDynamite]

That's an easy one. The roosts need to be significantly higher than the nests.
Since they are only 2 months old, they don't need the nests right now. So block them off for another month till they obtain the habit of roosting on the roosts which should be at least 2' above the nests.

Good to know. I'll definitely do that.

 

[NapoeleonDynamite]

Don't think 4 full grown birds are going to fit in that coop, but,
if you don't plan on a larger coop....
Here's an excellent modification to that kind of coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535

Good to know... I'll take a look at that link. Thank you!!