HELP

[sellefrancais]

Last year my 4 pullets laid eggs daily in one or both of my two nest boxes in the coop and spent nights side by side on the 6 foot long perch.The nest boxes were always tidy and poop free and cleanup was so easy just scooping under the perch regularly.I gave them to a friend as I go away for the winter.
This year my 4 new pullets are laying and sleeping together in the nest boxes which make for a VERY messy nest box daily and very dirty eggs.I have added two more nest boxes hoping they would use one for sleep and the other for laying but to no avail.I even put them on the perch a few times at dusk hoping they would stay there but they hop off and crowd into the nest box together( sometimes all 4 in 1 or sometimes 2 boxes used).Any suggestions?

 

[Sueby]

Can you close off the boxes at night, or remove them? I did that at first until they got used to sleeping on the roost, then I put them back in & they've been fine.

 

[aart]

I even put them on the perch a few times at dusk hoping they would stay there but they hop off and crowd into the nest box together

Move them well after full dark and/or cover nests an hour before roost time then uncover when you lock up after dark.
How old are your birds and how long have you had them??

Oh, and....Welcome to BYC! @sellefrancais
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[DuckWhisperer06]

Can you close off the boxes at night, or remove them?

X2

 

[sellefrancais]

Good ideas.I cannot remove them but I can block them off and set them on the perch at dark.They are 6 month old red sex links.