Hen Sleeps in Nesting Box

[bigblueteach]

I have a hen sleeping in the nesting box. 5 others are on the roost. What do I do?

 

[cavemanrich]

?,,,,,,,, Is it causing a problem??
Post a picture of coop interior, and we may have some answers/suggestions.
Often a picked on hen will avoid being on same roost as others.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is she molting? Elderly or infirm? Is this a new thing or she's always slept in there?

 

[bigblueteach]

?,,,,,,,, Is it causing a problem??
Post a picture of coop interior, and we may have some answers/suggestions.
Often a picked on hen will avoid being on same roost as others.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

No problem other than pooping all in it and it’s the box my hens prefer to lay eggs in. I’ll get a picture this evening

 

[bigblueteach]

Is she molting? Elderly or infirm? Is this a new thing or she's always slept in there?

No to all. She is 9 months old. I just got her Monday evening along with three others but they all roost

 

[rosemarythyme]

No to all. She is 9 months old. I just got her Monday evening along with three others but they all roost

Do you know if she was roosting in her previous home? Possibly she was in the habit of not doing so.

How much space do you have on the roost? She could also be low on the pecking order and getting bullied off.

For the time being you can cover up the nests before it's dark, and then uncover them once it's completely dark (and move her onto the roost if needed), so that will keep her out of the nest but leave them available for use first thing the next morning.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My hen house is a little small for the number of chickens I have right now but I hope to sell some soon - my meeker pullets are not sleeping in the nests, they are sleeping in the POOP TRAYS under the roosts! DH and I have been going out every evening and dragging them out (gently!) and parking them up top on the roosts. More and more of them are now finding their spots on the roosts, but a couple of the most timid ones still need us to "tuck them in" at night. They'll catch on. Just takes patience. And persistence. Chickens are good at teaching these virtues!