How to stop hens sleeping in nest box

[Roger Rogerer]

Personally I find lobbing a hand grenade in 5 mins after they roost is the only true way to stop them. I did try super gluing them to their perches just before bed time but i managed to get myself stuck as well and had to spend a very uncomfortable night in the chicken shed until my wife released me in the morning.
Just seems to be a constant problem, i agree its the height thing they go for, or is it cos they are female me thinks.
Problem is if you don't stop them they poo all night then they won't lay in the mess THEY made and will start laying outside etc.
It's ok blocking the nest box off but during the summer it can cause problems as they can lay as early as 4am.
good luck

 

[mejumpmore1]

I had that issue with one of my Dominique pullets. In the evenings I blocked off all the nest boxes and first thing in the morning would go out and remove it. I did this for about a week and then gave it a rest for a night. I haven't had that problem since. It didn't take her long to find another place to sleep.

 

[bobbyd]

i have had this problem and i'm going to seal of the nesting boxes at night and hopefully that encourage the girls to sleep on the perches which are higher. fingers crossed will let you know.

 

[zmongo]

I've been having the same issue with my hens, the nest boxes were blocked while they weren't laying. But since they started laying and I've opened up the nest boxes they all try to sleep in them at night. The roosting bars are higher then the nest boxes. Just can work it out?

 

[21hens-incharge]

WOW this is an old thread. I will drop a bit of advice if I may.

You can put pop doors on the nest boxes if you have space and open them in the morning then close them at night. No access to them no sleeping IN them.

I do have one that I allow to sleep in the nest box but only because she cannot jump anymore. She is getting on in age and has a bad leg. (born with the bad leg so not something new for her)

The only other option would be to clean the nest boxes every morning to avoid nasty stuff on the eggs.

 

[Adorkable]

I let my really old hens sleep in there sometimes cause I feel bad for them or if they are molting (and not laying eggs) I will let them sleep in there. Other than that I keep them out. Here's a video I just made showing how I fixed my nest boxes. Hope this may be helpful to someone.

 

[21hens-incharge]

That is genius! I love the ease of operation!

 

[Adorkable]

That is genius! I love the ease of operation!

Thank you so much.. glad ya like it

 

[Mikntam]

I just moved my girls into their coop and they are all sleeping together in the same nesting box. They do have roosting bars and they are higher. Will they move to the bars on their own or should I block them off like someone suggested? They. Shouldn't start laying eggs till September or October. Thanks in advance. Mike

 

[Rock Home Isle]

My little group of replacement pullets have all decided to start sleeping in the same nesting box. So each afternoon at about 4:00pm, I place a board that blocks off the nesting boxes.

By 4:00 pm, the eggs have been laid and collected, I just remove the board at 5:00am the next day when I feed the flock. After a few days, the birds are roosting and no longer using the nesting boxes to sleep in.

But 6 birds crammed into the same box.....seriously?