Dirty Birds

[merrymutts]

Hens starting to lay eggs again but am also finding that they are pooping in the nesting boxes.

 

[aart]

Are they roosting(sleeping) in the nests?
That's usually the cause of poopy nests.

 

[chickens really]

Is it Cold in your area?..They tend to huddle in nests in cold temps .

 

[Fairview01]

Had that problem with one of my hens. I use homer buckets for nest boxes. When I got home one night and collected there was a hen sitting on the eggs. Quite an onery cuss and didn't want to let me have the eggs. Thought she was going broody. I was okay with that as I wanted an early hatch without the headaches of incubating. After a couple of days of this and a dozen eggs in the bucket and bright red comb yet I concluded she had found a cozy bed. That night I took a blunted stick with me and gave a couple of good pokes. She was out of the bucket like ballistic missile. Same thing next night and that was all it took.

Amazing how fast they can move when they want to. Amazing how fast they can learn.

Oh keep in mind many times new pullets just starting to lay accidentally poo when laying until they get it straight what's going on.

 

[aart]

She was out of the bucket like ballistic missile. Same thing next night and that was all it took.
Amazing how fast they can move when they want to. Amazing how fast they can learn.

Oh keep in mind many times new pullets just starting to lay accidentally poo when laying until they get it straight what's going on.

That's true...even some older birds can have that problem.