Keeping Hens From Roosting in Nest Box

[Blue Tiger]

Did you miss this?

Mesh in image is wall of coop. Depth of field hard to make out with so little light. Birds are currently roosting on poles with nothing else between them and ground. Getting them to access intended roost has me making so they can get to roost from more directions until they are comfortable with the arrangement.

 

[aart]

Mesh in image is wall of coop. Depth of field hard to make out with so little light. Birds are currently roosting on poles with nothing else between them and ground. Getting them to access intended roost has me making so they can get to roost from more directions until they are comfortable with the arrangement.

Optical illusion I guess, sure looks like it wrapped around top of roost.

 

[Blue Tiger]

Optical illusion I guess, sure looks like it wrapped around top of roost.
View attachment 1963082

Material serving as roost totally covered by birds. Piece of wood you see with mesh is about 3 feet past down and diagonal and sitting on a treated 4 x 4 serving as part of sled.

 

[aart]

Material serving as roost totally covered by birds. Piece of wood you see with mesh is about 3 feet past down and diagonal and sitting on a treated 4 x 4 serving as part of sled.

Ohhhh...now I 'see' it.....DOH, Sorry.<blush>

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Roosts at same level as nest with only inches between roost and nest. The coops each have two roost poles that are about 3 feet long. Coops are 3 foot wide and 8 foot and with another roost in run part as big as the regular roost near nest. The chickens will be in coop probably at night and when laying eggs when they do need so much room. That means they have a little over 4 square foot per chicken just to sleep and lay eggs.

The roost are not kind you can move.

There's your sign!
Roosts need to be significantly higher than nests or you can be guaranteed they will likely sleep in the nests.
It is proof that people who build small commercial coops know nothing about chickens.
Another sign is that they always put in more nest boxes than the number of chickens that can fit in one of those things would ever need.

 

[breegull]

There's your sign!
Roosts need to be significantly higher than nests or you can be guaranteed they will likely sleep in the nests.
It is proof that people who build small commercial coops know nothing about chickens.
Another sign is that they always put in more nest boxes than the number of chickens that can fit in one of those things would ever need.

Agreed. OP, if you're concerned about them pooping in the nest boxes, but aren't going to raise the roosts higher than the nestboxes, I'd advise you to just remove the prebuilt nestboxes entirely.

Once they're trained to roost in their coop, you can always add 1 or more external nestboxes either in the outside portion of the prefab, or freestanding in the fenced field. They shouldn't be as tempted to sleep in an outside nestbox if they're used to their cozy roosts inside. Back when I had 3-6 chickens in a smaller-than-ideal coop, we used a freestanding nestbox in their run with great success.

 

[Blue Tiger]

Folks, I realize many have issues with the imported coops. I needed a readily available option where when used in multiples they would all be the same. I use several custom built pens as well so have a good handle on relationships between roost size, roost height, and other issues related to chicken confinement. My interest here is in dealing with my reality with this project.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Folks, I realize many have issues with the imported coops. I needed a readily available option where when used in multiples they would all be the same. I use several custom built pens as well so have a good handle on relationships between roost size, roost height, and other issues related to chicken confinement. My interest here is in dealing with my reality with this project.

OK then I would say your only choice is to block off the nests if you aren't pulling them out to try and train the birds to sleep on the roost. When reaching point of lay you can remove the box covers.
I do like the idea of multiple housing options. It has been a godsend for me.

 

[Blue Tiger]

Of the three coops, pullets in two are coming down off roost in the morning. The pullets in the remaining coop did not come down during the entire day yesterday and did not come off even two hours after other pullets came down in their respective coops. I had to check to confirm pullets even present in the third coop.

 

[Blue Tiger]

Overflow pens, two like this one. Quickly will be getting them to higher and provide wind breaks. They already have good cover.

Looks like a little sour crop coming on with this pullet. Crop pendulous and she is overall not looking good. Today we will check her closely. Pullets in process of adapting to diet more varied than the nutrient dense concentrated feed they have been raised on to date. I need to get them to point where they can consume coarse grains if need be. Will take a little time.