Hen sleeping (and pooping) in nesting box

[reesadz]

Since the temperatures dropped a bit (I'm in NJ) my 2 out of 3 of my hens have stopped laying, which I expected, but the one who is still laying eggs has been sleeping, and therefore pooping in the nesting box. Any tips on how to stop this behavior? Thanks!

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I would block the boxes at night so that she can't sleep there, and open them back up in the morning. After she sleeps on the rooster for a week or so it should be her new routine.

 

[Den in Penn]

The best solution is to block the nest off before they go to roost, you can unblock it after they go to sleep. I have an EE that was starting to do that blocking the nest put a stop to that. Now I have another one starting to do it.

 

[aleebama]

I had the same problem with some 20 week old EE's which were not laying yet. After about a week of me moving them to their roost after dark solved the problem.