Hens still going into laying boxes at night!

[Kakaruk]

Hi, my hens are still going into the laying boxes in the evening. I've put a cardboard barrier in front every night for a few months (I have to remove it in the morning and put it back at night), it's getting old. I have to go in the eve and shoosh them out of the of the laying boxes and put the cardboard in there. Maybe it's because it's winter and a little colder? Central Texas is not that cold.....

I thought I could have broken the behavior by now but they're still doing it! Man! They are more resilient than I am!

I wouldn't care if they are in the laying boxes at all but they get poop in there if they stay all night.

 

[MarkJr]

Where are the roost spots in relation to boxes?

 

[CluckerFamily]

Great question above!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is anyone using the roosts? Are they higher than the nest boxes? Are roosts adequate in length for number of birds (roughly 1' per standard size bird)? Have you checked for draft, mites, in roost area? Is coop adequately lit at dusk so chickens can find their way onto the roost?

 

[Kakaruk]

Good questions, thanks ya'll. Yes, some of these questions were asked before when this first started happening. I had moved 4-5 younger hens into the coop with the adults, it was about the same time it was getting colder.

The height of the roosts are exactly the same as the laying boxes. I can't change that unless I totally remodel my coop. I didn't build it myself but it was Craiglist 'i'm moving need to sell the coop with the girls, you get all my chicken stuff.....' Before it was 1 inch poles. When I got your advice last time with pictures, I changed the wooden poles out with two by fours, so I think they feel more stable now or at least it's easier for them to roost at night.

I have 14 girls right now and about 18 feet of roost length. And you know how some of them like to sleep right next to a 'friend' - so I don't think that's the problem.

Yes, I think you're right, I think the problem is the height of the roosts and nesting boxes are exactly the same. The coop itself is only about 4 feet tall. The only way I could really fix this I guess would be a major rebuild to add on about 3-4 feet to where the current roof is and make a more human size door to get in and out of the coop. There were benefits to his design because the current roof is on hinges and you can lift it up to get in and out of the coop.

 

[aart]

Yes, some of these questions were asked before when this first started happening. I had moved 4-5 younger hens into the coop with the adults, it was about the same time it was getting colder.

Pics here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...in-laying-boxes-and-pooping-at-night.1428252/

Can you move the nests down low?

 

[Kakaruk]

No. Not without a major rebuild. I can move them, the nesting boxes, lower with a major rebuild or move the roosts up with a major rebuild.....

 

[aart]

No. Not without a major rebuild. I can move them, the nesting boxes, lower with a major rebuild or move the roosts up with a major rebuild.....

Well, you could build/buy new nests and put them down below,
then cover the old nest openings with a piece of wood.