Hen not roosting?

[LeahOregon]

Is it normal for a hen to sleep in her nesting box? We got 4 teenagers 2 weeks ago (2 rocks, 2 stars) and most of them sleep on the roost nightly, except for our white rock (she's the only one laying yet). Is this normal? I always thought that hens liked to roost when they sleep. Could it be because it's warmer in the nest?

 

[Domestic_goddess]

I have a few that do that as well, i wouldn't worry too much about it!

 

[Imp]

Some hens like it. It is normal.
A lot of people discourage it, cause they may poop in the nests, thus getting the eggs poopy.

You can put her up on the roosts yourself at night to retrain her.

Imp

 

[meghan713]

How old are these teenagers? It could be the age... When our chooks were pullets they slept on the floor of the coop even though a roost was available to them. They moved up to the roost one at a time.

 

[Shelly_WNC]

what breed of hens do you have? and what age? I wonder if it has anything to do with certain breeds. You said this one hen IS laying eggs?

 

[LeahOregon]

We have 2 rocks and 2 stars. The rocks were hatched on 9/22, and the stars were hatched on 10/20. The white rock is the one who's laying and she's the one who never roosts. The other rock (barred) always roosts, and the other 2 are sporadic. I wish she would roost because I have to clean out her nesting box every morning so she doesn't lay in poop.

 

[flockof4]

I have 3 pullets and 1 hen that just started laying and none of 'em roost at night. They sleep on a raised shelf that isn't a nesting box. I do have to sweep the poop off the shelf and put down more straw each day But I don't mind the time in the coop to check on things and look for eggs. I hope an easier solution presents itself as spring arrives.