Hens keep pooping in nest boxes

[poultryman84]

So my adding roosts did not seem to help. I am going to try blocking off the nest boxes just before dusk. Would I be best to uncover them after dark or wait until just before sunup? I could cover them at around 630 central time and uncover them at around 10 PM. Would that be sufficient?

 

[lazy gardener]

Yes. As long as the hens have gone to roost, and it's dark enough that they wouldn't be tempted to come down to the nest boxes.

 

[poultryman84]

Do you think a dark colored sheet would work to cover the boxes?

 

[aart]

Do you think a dark colored sheet would work to cover the boxes?

That's a great idea!
Don't even think it needs to be dark colored.
Something flexible enough to roll or fold up, might need to be heavier than a sheet or big enough not to allow them to sneak around the edge.

They may be 'freaked out' about something new and that large in their coop, so just keep that in mind....
...might actually help.

The new roost also is 'something to be wary of' and may take a few days to be used.

Chickens don't like changes and often need some time to get used to them.

I prefer to move the nest block well after dark rather than getting out there early enough to remove it in the morning before they are up and moving around, but either way would work.

 

[poultryman84]

The nest block is in. I'll go back out around 10 or 11 and remove it. The hens were very confused by what I was doing. How many night do you think it will take?

 

[Bonz]

Leave it up for at least a good week, get them using those roosts. Their creatures of habit so give them plenty of time to get use to your roosts. Week or two they should be broke of that bad habit.

 

[aart]

The nest block is in. I'll go back out around 10 or 11 and remove it. The hens were very confused by what I was doing. How many night do you think it will take?

Leave it up for at least a good week, get them using those roosts. Their creatures of habit so give them plenty of time to get use to your roosts. Week or two they should be broke of that bad habit.

Agrees at least a week.

When you go back in to take down the nest block after dark, look and see where everyone is roosting......
........it will give you an idea of how they are sorting themselves.

The first night you decide to not put it up, if you can make the time to do so, stay in the coop during the time they go to roost and watch to see who might be thinking about going back to roosting in the nests and throw them out of the nest. This is what I did and eventually I would walk into the coop and they would exit the nest and go to the roost. but I had back access nests so it was easy to open the access outside of the coop wall and shove them out.

 

[poultryman84]

When I went in last night most of the chickens were on the roosts but 4 of them decided to roost on the floor. I keep blocking the boxes for at least a week. Hopefully the 4 on the floor gradually get the idea.

 

[aart]

When I went in last night most of the chickens were on the roosts but 4 of them decided to roost on the floor. I keep blocking the boxes for at least a week. Hopefully the 4 on the floor gradually get the idea.

I'd put any on floor up on roosts.
Use both hands to hold down wings when picking up bird, place their feet firmly on roost and hold for a second until they steady, little pat on the back as you release wings...talking softly all the time.

 

[BierHuhn]

I have the sleeping/bathroom issue as well (I've got 2 ladies)
I've got a small coop from cconly.com. It's basically a 9-10 sq foot coop.
I bought it used (and cleaned it thoroughly).
The nest boxes and roost bars are pretty much the same height. so I made a higher roost bar in the coop so it is higher than the nest box entrance. It didn't help. Now I block off the nest boxes, but as winter approaches, I am loathe to have to do that extra outdoor duty every morning. I am hoping that this method will eventually train them, but I'm not sure if this is really possible with chickens? Any other thoughts on this scenario? I can't make the roosts an higher. should i basically modify my coop so it's just a roost area and make a separate nest box?

Thanks a bunch folks!