Full of crap?!?! My nesting boxes are!

[KNelly]

How do you prevent them from pooping in the nesting boxes. I have 9 pullets and 1 hen. Their roosts are above their nesting boxes. It's not terribly bad in the boxes but enough to ask for help! I know they aren't sleeping in them. I always see them sleeping on the roosts. I noticed more pullets are checking out the boxes and attempting to kick out the shavings. I have 6 pullets are at the POL and 1 hen so I don't want to close them off. Will they eventually stop...what can I do?

 

[Free Feather]

If they are not sleeping in them, and you need them open, really nothing I can think of. Just going to have to clean them.

 

[silkymom]

ill need to get ya a pic, but, ive always had bantam silkys, these big birds i have now, lay in the boxes that are up above the floor, i need to clean em every other day to keep eggs clean, they also roost on edge of boxes and crap in them all but one, i just clean alot, good luck

 

[KNelly]

Not what I was hoping to hear. I see people on here posting pictures all the time of their martha stewart clean nesting boxes and wonder to myself how it's possible...I haven't had any dirty eggs yet so I have that going for me.

 

[azygous]

If you have six pullets that are very close to beginning laying but haven't actually started yet, they're going to be spending time "playing" in the nest boxes. This is important learning behavior that precedes laying. They sometimes make a big mess, scattering nesting material all over the place, as well as occasionally pooping in the boxes.

After they begin to lay, this "playing" behavior usually ends. Most hens sense the need to lay an egg, hop into the box, arrange the nesting material to suit them, then settle down to business. After the egg is laid, they're out of there.

So, patience! It will end soon. But do keep an eye on them and make sure they aren't actually spending the night in the nests.

 

[KNelly]

@azygous You are amazing! Thanks for the good news. I just needed to know there's hope!!

 

[aart]

Poop Happens...lol.

azygous summed it up nicely...just wanted to add, I occasionally still find a turd in the nests once in a while.