Chickens sleeping in nesting boxes

[plangley]

When we first put our chickens in their coop, they went straight to sleep in the nesting boxes. I read not to allow them to sleep in the nesting boxes, so I boarded them up. My 6 girls are now almost 18 weeks old and we have just opened the boxes back up and put in some fake eggs. When I went out to close up the coop tonight, I took a peek and 3 of them has stuffed themselves in one of the nest boxes. The had moved the eggs out to the middle of the coop. The other didn't look like it had been touched. Should I do something else to discourage sleeping in the nesting box or just let them be. This is my first experience with chickens and I am not sure exactly what to do. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[sourland]

Where are your roosts located? If they are lower than the nest boxes, raise the roosts and block the nest boxes until the birds start using the roosts. Chickens generally like to roost at the highest point possible.

 

[plangley]

Their roosts are higher than the nest boxes and some of use the roosts.

 

[gsim]

We started off with 25 around 5 yrs ago. I set my roosts at 4 ft. height and nests across from them at 2 ft height. All 25 of them roosted properly. However we got 5 newbies to add to our 5 original old gals and one of them is a Black Australorpe. She has turned super-broody and mostly stays in a nest most of the day and sleeps in one too. However she never poops in the nest. I literally pluck her from the nest at daybreak when I open the coop and take her out to where I tossed some scratch grain and she just joins in with the others and acts normal. Most times when I go to get eggs or change water, she is on a nest, but occasionally she is out in the run with the others. However she doesn't ever approach me for treats unlike the others who gather at my feet and clamor for their treats.

I am assuming that she is just super-broody and extremely shy, even more than most Black Aussies are known for. Being as she never fouls a nest, I am assuming that there is nothing wrong with her. Yours may grow out of it or they may turn out to be like my Aussie. Mine didn't start out that way like yours though. She only got that way after she was nearing 10 months age.