Hen Won't Stop Roosting In Nest

[newchickens2009]

How Do I Get 1 Of My Hens To Stop Roosting And Pooping In The Nest? I've Tried Everything Even Going Out There Every Couple Hours And Pushing Her Out Just To Find Her Back There On My Return. Any Help Will Be Appreciated. Thank You!

 

[gritsar]

I had to break two hens of this when they were first moved to their coop.
First, it helps tremendously if your roosts are higher than the nestboxes. Chickens instinctively want to go as high as possible to roost.
Second, and this takes persistence, go out each night after dark and move them. Use as little light as possible to see by. I used a penlight. Enough light for me to see by, but not enough light for the chickens to see by. That way they won't just move back to the nestboxes after you leave.
You may have to do this for several days or a week, but they should get the hint.

 

[gkeesling]

Having your roosts higher than your nests is the first step.
I still had a hen sleeping in the nest. When they were done laying for the day, I covered the nests with a board, then went out in the morning to move the board so they could lay. There were a couple times the hen beat me to the nest before I covered it so I just picked her out of it and sat her on the roost. After a few days of this she started going to the roost.

 

[PortageGirl]

Or, put a board up to block the nests every night, removing it in the morning, of course, then you'd have to be "up with the chickens" every day.

 

[JakRat]

mine did that for a while and they didnt like the roost I made for them... I took all but one nest out and that seemed to work... also now they all sleep around their ramp entrance in the top of the coop (A frame is covered, run is on the bottom). They are silly creatures...

 

[newchickens2009]

I Will Continue To Keep Moving Her Off The Nest Every Night And See What Happens? Thank You All For The Reply And God Bless You!!!!

 

[patman75]

Higher roost and a wider roost. At least a 2X4 with the wide side up.

Block the nest boxes for a few weeks at night and open them in the morning. You can break them in a few weeks.

 

[BawkinOnTheBench]

We use 2 sides from a large cardboard box. Our next boxes are recessed inside a 'box', and one flap of the cardboard fits perfectly over the top, while the other flap hangs down over the entrance. We put it out near dark, and take it out when we do lockdown for the night. Our chickens have been broken of this habit since last fall, but when our weather cooled down this fall, 2 of them suddenly decided the nest boxes looked cozier, so we've reverted to this again.

 

[Kittymomma]

This probably doesn't apply, but just in case... I have one hen that sleeps on the edge of the nesting box. I purchased her last Spring along with 5 others. She is missing part of both her wings, like somebody clipped them at the last joint. It's hard for her to get up onto the roosts so I just clean "her" box out every couple of days and don't worry about it. Good luck with yours.

 

[newchickens2009]

The Keep Moving Her At Night Seems To Be Working? I Still Find Her There When I Go To Check Everynight But Once I Move Her She Dosen't Go Back. Hopefully She Will Soon Get The Idea.