chickens sleeping in nesting boxes.

[phillyfarmer]

I read on BYC, roosting poles need to be higher than nesting boxes. So that is what I did. Nesting boxes are maybe 16 inches off of the floor. One roosting pole is about 18 inches above the nesting boxes and the second roosting pole is about 2 ft above that.

Lots of poo in the nesting boxes. One of my hens just started laying on Saturday so I would like to deter this behavior as soon as possible.

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Jccatcher]

how many boxes do you have

 

[Big dreams]

Do you know how many are sleeping in the boxes, or how many are roosting?

 

[australorpchick]

What kind of chickens? Silkies don't always roost. For that matter, my australorps don't always roost either. Sometimes they'll snuggle up with silkies in one of the nest boxes.

 

[MIKE555444]

You really need one of the roost to be higher than the nest. Normally they go to the highest roost. You might also try to shut them up in the coop for a few days to get them to explore the roost more.... Having the nest blocked off until they take to the roost better would have helped before the one hen started to lay.


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[phillyfarmer]

I think the chickens are Red Stars/Golden Buffs? That is what they look like from other photos on BYC that I have seen, but the lady who gave them to me told me something different. The lady also told me they were a different age. I didnt expect eggs until late August early September. It was a nice surprise.

Good thing we put the nesting boxes in 3 days before our first egg appeared.

Both of the roosts are higher than the nest. I have seen no evidence they have been on either roost. I have put them on the roost several times and have just sat there while they checked things out.

I have 2 nesting boxes (12x18x16 - dont ask! LOL), and 4 chickens total. I believe Lola is in one alone and Peaches might be in the other one? (she is the hen that has started to lay, although she lays the eggs on the floor of the coop right now. I just put golf balls in the nesting boxes yesterday.) Ruby and Petunia snuggle in the corner on the floor under the nesting boxes.

I am not sure how well they would do in the coop for a few days? When they are in their run too much of the day they squak at me they want out!!! But I will consider it if you think it will help.