How to keep chicks from sleeping in the nesting boxes

[rosemarythyme]

Block off the nests before they go in for the night. Once it's dark, go back in and remove the blockade so the layers can lay in the AM.

 

[aart]

Block off the nests before they go in for the night. Once it's dark, go back in and remove the blockade so the layers can lay in the AM.

Ditto Dat!!

I rigged a hinged cover for my nests because this happens every year with new chicks.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Ditto Dat!!

I rigged a hinged cover for my nests because this happens every year with new chicks.

So remove it once they're settled for the night?they wont go running back in there once I open them back up?

 

[aart]

So remove it once they're settled for the night?they wont go running back in there once I open them back up?

I open the nest cover when I lock up, well after dark and by then the chicks are roosting somewhere not in the nests. I have several other roosts set up lower than and away from the main roosts.

 

[HappyClucker7]

So remove it once they're settled for the night?they wont go running back in there once I open them back up?

No they won't run back into the nests. Chickens can't see anything at night, so they'll be too scared to get back off the roosts.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I open the nest cover when I lock up, well after dark and by then the chicks are roosting somewhere not in the nests. I have several other roosts set up lower than and away from the main roosts.

I do have a smaller, lower roost set up for them that they havent used yet...but because they just go into the box. I'll close them up tonight and see what happens.

 

[aart]

I do have a smaller, lower roost set up for them that they havent used yet...but because they just go into the box. I'll close them up tonight and see what happens.

I have also taken them out of nest and putting them on the roost after dark.
Then next night block nests before roost time.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I

I have also taken them out of nest and putting them on the roost after dark.
Then next night block nests before roost time.

I did that when it was dark but they jumped off and right back.

 

[rosemarythyme]

No they won't run back into the nests. Chickens can't see anything at night, so they'll be too scared to get back off the roosts.

In most cases, they won't. I do have a special needs chicken that, if she falls off the roost, will waddle her way very slowly across the floor (like inches at a time) until she bumps into the nests, and then climb in. We give her a lot of leeway because she can't help being how she is.

 

[HappyClucker7]

In most cases, they won't. I do have a special needs chicken that, if she falls off the roost, will waddle her way very slowly across the floor (like inches at a time) until she bumps into the nests, and then climb in. We give her a lot of leeway because she can't help being how she is.

I have a chicken that sleeps in a nest box too. She's a 4 year old barred rock, and she's just too old and heavy to get on and off the roost anymore. I let her sleep wherever she wants.