Combination Nest and Toilet?!?

[AllChookUp]

Thanks for the research, Buff. I had done some searches before posting, but didn't find anything. I didn't think of using "block" or "curtain" in the search, tho.

I don't know what I will do. The nest boxes are higher than some of the roost rungs, but not the upper two levels of roost rungs. The behavior didn't start until I built the new upper level of nest boxes.

They're not touching the lower level. I have a total of 12 nests for 14 chickens, so I have more than enough, I guess.

I sure don't want to have to clean poop out of some of the nests all the time, though.


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[vfem]

I'm having this same issue with my new ladies... they're not laying age so they are roosting on the nesting boxes!

Got a morning mess to clean daily now until we build the new coop... not enough roosting room for everyone.

 

[cqranch]

I was also having this problem. I had my nests toward the back of the house, cause I thought darker out of the way is what they prefered for nesting. I finally got tired of cleaning the nests out everyday. I ripped out that row of nests and replaced with roosts. Moved a set of nests closer to the entrance of the house. So far, nobody is using my nests to roost anymore.

 

[Wynette]

I had the same problem when my (now senior flock) was juvenile. I put shoe boxes into the nest boxes at night when I tucked them in for several weeks; removed them during the day. I think, with mine, it was a "habit" that had to be broken. It worked like a charm, and I rarely, if ever, find poo in the nest boxes any more. So nice to collect eggs and not have to wash them for customers!

 

[AllChookUp]

That's an interesting idea, Wynette.

But being a male, I don't have 6 shoeboxes laying around.

 

[PoultryPedia]

Reposting something I posted before (with a few revisions):
When my father-in-law had rows of nests, he used to place a long thin board in front in the evening halfway down the openings so the chickens couldn't get in and poop at night. He'd remove the board in the morning. I imagine that on most nests you could put a bent nail or piece of wire at each end to serve as hooks to place the ends of the board in.
Me--I like my chickens to be able to sleep wherever they're happiest (and warmest in winter) so I just use a kitty litter scoop to remove poops every few days and toss in some more bedding as needed.

 

[Wynette]

Well, I'm a FEMALE and I don't have 6 shoeboxes laying around! I had to bring a few shoebox sized boxes home from work.

 

[AllChookUp]

SpeckledHills wrote:
When my father-in-law had rows of nests, he used to place a long thin board in front in the evening halfway down the openings so the chickens couldn't get in and poop at night. He'd remove the board in the morning.

That would work for me on the weekends, but not during the week. Unless I got up extra-early, and went down to remove the boards before I left for work (at 5:00am).

But I should do something, either the shoebox or board idea. Thanks, all!

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[roosmom]

I opened the door to the coop last nite and I saw three chickies in one nest box and 4 in the other......

 

[Wynette]

I've seen one of my hens actually lay an egg as she sat on top of another hen, because it's her favorite nest box. Shockingly, the egg was not cracked!