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Is there a way to keep hens from soiling the nesting boxes?

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by KingFisher, Oct 5, 2008.

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  1. Oct 5, 2008 Post #1 of 12
    KingFisher

    KingFisher In the Brooder

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    For the past couple weeks, one of my hens has been using the nesting box as a bathroom every few days, all over the eggs and everything. Is there any way to make her stop?
     
  2. Oct 5, 2008 Post #2 of 12
    eeiko321

    eeiko321 Songster

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    i dont think so

    because ive heard u cant toilet train chickens, unlike dogs or cats

    and apparently 1/2 of the soiling is done at night or during thier sleep
    so yeah

    i have to clean my coopa quick clean every day.
     
  3. Oct 5, 2008 Post #3 of 12
    gritsar

    gritsar Cows, Chooks & Impys - OH MY!

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    If your chickens go out to a run or to free-range and are not in the coop all day, I'm gonna assume that she is messing up the nest box by roosting on it at night.
    Make sure your nest boxes are lower than your roosts and make sure you have enough roosts for everybody. It may be necessary to go in the coop at night for a few nights and move the hen from the nest box and put her on a roost. It'll usually click in their heads to use the roosts, but it can take several days of moving her at night.
     
  4. Oct 6, 2008 Post #4 of 12
    KingFisher

    KingFisher In the Brooder

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    None of the hens are sleeping in the nesting boxes. One goes in there during the day, probably when she lays her egg, and then poops in the box on the eggs. She has done this three times already. As I am currently working out of state, the hens do not get let out until the afternoon when a friend comes to collect the eggs and let them free range for a few hours. WHen it gets dark he checks on them before closing up the coop for the night. They are all on the roosts at that time. I will be home in one week, and they will then be able to be out in the run from dawn till dark. Maybe then she will stop.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2008
  5. Oct 6, 2008 Post #5 of 12
    Solsken Farm

    Solsken Farm Songster

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    Ha! I bet she is telling you she doesn't like the schedule being stuck inside! I don't know of a solution short of closing off most of the nesting boxes. Maybe others would kick out the offender when they needed to lay.....[​IMG] Sorry for the yucky problem. I have worried about this happening.[​IMG]
     
  6. Oct 7, 2008 Post #6 of 12
    eeiko321

    eeiko321 Songster

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    can u post a pic of your coop or your set up?

    ive actually accomplished mine to sleep in the nesting boxes in the coop...

    but yeah the soiling...thats just a part of thier nature..
    they are not cats, dogs...
    they are slightly simplier than them.
     
  7. Oct 7, 2008 Post #7 of 12
    blueskylen

    blueskylen Songster

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    just wondering if she has done this ever since she started laying, or has it just started?

    Maybe she has a "tube" problem - lays an egg, and then can't hold back the pooh or something?
     
  8. Oct 7, 2008 Post #8 of 12
    Buff Hooligans

    Buff Hooligans Scrambled

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  9. Oct 7, 2008 Post #9 of 12
    mrsengeseth

    mrsengeseth Songster

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    i have a kind of odd thing going on in mine right now...they are using only one nest box as a toilet. there's barely (although, yes, some) any poop anywhere else in the coop. they are using the nest box closest the door as a ...well, for lack of better terms, a cat box.
     
  10. Oct 7, 2008 Post #10 of 12
    Chicabee19

    Chicabee19 Songster

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    I would remove the nest box being used a a water-closet.
     
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