How do I keep hens from sleeping in laying boxes and pooping at night?

[Kakaruk]

Hi, I think my thread says it: How do I keep my hens from sleeping in laying boxes and pooping in them at night?

I think my coop is big enough. I have wooden large rods for them to perch on. However, I have just added 5 new younger chicks to the flock. I think that has affected their behavior.

How do I keep them from the nesting boxes and make them stay in the roosting area? There is plenty enough space for them in the roosting area.

Thank you for any thoughts or advice!

 

[CluckerFamily]

You may want to block the nesting boxes off and then open them up in the morning.

 

[cherrynberry]

You may want to block the nesting boxes off and then open them up in the morning.

Is your nesting box taller than the poles?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Block off nests at night to keep them from sleeping in them.

My guess is birds are getting pushed off due to addition of new ones. How many roosts do you have? How many birds? How much total length in roost?

 

[Kakaruk]

Ok thanks ya'll! The nesting boxes are the same height as the pole perches. They are plenty long, about 8 feet, I have two of them. There is plenty of room for them all to perch. I suspect since I've added new hens, and some nights it's starting to get colder, some have moved over towards/inside the boxes. I guess I'll need to get a board/plywood or something to block them off at night.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I use plastic jugs (vinegar/washer fluid) when needed, 1 hour before sunset daily till habit is fixed, usually less than a week. I remove after sunset when dark and I lockup the coops.

I have wooden large rods for them to perch on.

Picture would be nice.
I would say 2" thick minimum. Are they stable?
I would worry if they are smooth and narrow, chickens may not be able to hold on while sleeping.
They should be higher than top of nest boxes.
I like a flat roost 2"x 3" wide side up in coop I built.

The roosts are 20" and 24" high.
My bought coop has 2"x 3" narrow side up and my Barred Rocks have used them for 2+ years.

They are the same height. GC

 

[B-Goock]

Chickens typically prefer to roost as high as they can get. Nesting boxes at the same height as roost may be the issue.

Something else is they may be getting broody but I doubt that if they are pooping in the nest.

 

[aart]

Ok thanks ya'll! The nesting boxes are the same height as the pole perches. They are plenty long, about 8 feet, I have two of them. There is plenty of room for them all to perch. I suspect since I've added new hens, and some nights it's starting to get colder, some have moved over towards/inside the boxes. I guess I'll need to get a board/plywood or something to block them off at night.

How many older birds?
How old are they all in weeks or months?
Please post some pics of your coop.

I use plastic jugs (vinegar/washer fluid) when needed, 1 hour before sunset daily till habit is fixed, usually less than a week. I remove after sunset when dark and I lockup the coops.

Good timing but mine would laugh at the bottles and squeeze in anyway, especially younger/smaller birds.

I rigged a hinged nest cover, works a treat!

 

[Kakaruk]

Thanks Chicken husbandry friends! This makes sense. I will try to get some pics but it may take me a few days to post in the middle of the week like this. I think my easiest and first thing I'll try is the jug method. Actually tonight there was only 1 chicken in the nest area.

They are the same height as my poles. The poles are the 1-1half inch poles, maybe it is an issue being too thin. I can't really raise them up as the coop is already built, unless I do a larger rebuild. It was a coop I bought from someone who was moving, I did not build it myself.

Of the original seven hens, I have only one left, she must be about 4-5 years old at least. Six are two years old, and the other six are chicks I hatched this spring. I get a sense they are just finding their place in the roost!

The second easiest fix would be to remove the poles and put two by fours in there to help them sleep better maybe? The poles are very stable and worked well for the original 7 hens I had. I will try to take photos and post soon for ya'll to look at.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

I am having this same problem with some of my chickens. I think it’s due to 2 things: molting hens being uncomfortable and young (16 weeks) pullets wanting to hide from the big hens. I have been moving them every night and hopefully they will go up on their own soon...