Keeping the nesting boxes clean

[Silkie2]

We currently have wood shavings in our nesting boxes. We have 6 nesting boxes and 39 chickens (but only around 25 are able to lay eggs, the rest are chicks or seniors)
it only takes about two days for the nesting boxes to get dirty after they've just been cleaned!!! Thus making the eggs poopy!!
How do you keep it clean?! Is their a better substrate then wood shavings?

 

[The egg man 2000]

What is happening is the chickens are roosting in the nest box at night I would consider putting a board in the center of the boxes at night so they are unable to go in there and poop all over
Hope this helps

 

[flyin-lowe]

That was going to be my advice as well. How much roosting space do you have for that many birds? Also are all the roosts higher then the nest boxes?

 

[Silkie2]

That was going to be my advice as well. How much roosting space do you have for that many birds? Also are all the roosts higher then the nest boxes?

They have enough roosting space for sure, (we added an addition to the coop since we got so many) and the roosts are definitely higher then the nesting boxes
Thanks! I'll block it off at night like you and @The egg man 2000 said.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your chickens are definitely sitting in there at night and pooping. Go out and night and see if they're actually using the roost bars. My guess is it's probably some of the little ones or very low ranking birds who just aren't making it up to the roost, so they're staying in the boxes instead.

The only problem with closing off the nest boxes at night is if you have early morning layers, they might not want to hold it until you get out there to take off the cover (depending on when you get up).

 

[Hokum Coco]

I tried something new in my coop. For years I have been
lining my nest boxes with the folded empty nylon mesh feed bags. When a bag gets soiled pop out the soiled and pop in another. Poop just peels off in below freezing temperatures and just flakes off when left out in the sun to bake and dry. It is the best method I have stumbled upon in my 67 trips around the sun. Oh remove the excess string from the open end of the bag it can get tangled in your birds legs and wings. Easy Peasy Japaneasy.

This year I took even a step further I place an elevated false wire floor with no bedding over the main floor works as a drop pit for the poop. It keeps my nest boxes and bird's feet much cleaner. I may revert back to pine shaving during the Canadian winters time will tell.

How do you keep nest boxes clean

 

[junebuggena]

You need at least 39 feet of roost for that many, and dominant birds don't like to share roosting space with subordinate juveniles. I'm betting it's the younger ones sleeping in the nest boxes because the layers won't allow them up on the roosts.

 

[Silkie2]

Here's the setup I have

The roosts

the here's the nesting boxes (everything's messy, it's due for a clean)

(yes that is a silkie in one of the nesting boxes, she has no feathers on her head) the nesting boxes are in the shed, we blocked part of the inside shed off, if that makes sense. And the roosts are in the outer coop (the blue part) free ranging them right now so that's why the gate is open.

 

[junebuggena]

Nice setup, but I see a few things that might be problematic come winter. All of the roosts put your birds in the path of a draft. Come winter, that means you may have frostbite issues. You want roosts at least a foot below any ventilation openings to keep the birds out of the direct path of airflow. Second issue I see is chicken wire instead of hardware cloth. Not going to stop a hungry coon from getting in. The different roosting levels is good, but that lowest one is in the poop zone of the birds above. Also, Silkies have a hard time getting up on roosts more than 2 feet up. Could be them that are sleeping in the nest boxes.

 

[Silkie2]

Nice setup, but I see a few things that might be problematic come winter. All of the roosts put your birds in the path of a draft. Come winter, that means you may have frostbite issues. You want roosts at least a foot below any ventilation openings to keep the birds out of the direct path of airflow. Second issue I see is chicken wire instead of hardware cloth. Not going to stop a hungry coon from getting in. The different roosting levels is good, but that lowest one is in the poop zone of the birds above. Also, Silkies have a hard time getting up on roosts more than 2 feet up. Could be them that are sleeping in the nest boxes.

We usually block the windows off with a towel of something in the cold months. my silkie gets up on the roosts fine. Her favorite spot is at the window for her to look out of.
We've never had a problem with raccoons. And I don't see how they could get to the windows due to it being really high off the ground.
We used to have dowels and they were specifically placed so the hens on top wouldn't poop on the birds below. But soon some of the dowels and we replaced them with 2x4s. And after we finished I realized....crap.
Luckily when I let the chickens out into the run I never see any with poop on their backs or anything sooo if I do I'll have my dad rearrange them again for me. Back to the silkies, I have two silkies, one can get up fine. But the other one is always broody so she stays in the nesting boxes. When I block them off she'll just go back to the roosts I guess. (She has gotten up on them before) thank you for your concern and I really like it when people give me their honest opinions and what they may see wrong, it helps me learn if theirs anything else please let me know.