Li'l Miss Poopy Pants

[Lunachick]

Well, a moderator told me not to let them sleep in the nestbox or I'll have poopy eggs. So, I'm being really good about this, and every evening at bedtime (for birdies) I plop them on the roost and they stay. I check on them before I hit the sack myself and they're still on the roost. Good! But in the a.m. the nest box was visited by one of them because there is poop in it, alot, so one of them is being sneaky. I know it is just one, because there is a poop pile below the roost. How do I correct this without going out there every hour to roost them? Or is that what I do? I only have the two, ages are about 17/18 wks old. Any advice?

 

[Poison Ivy]

I had 20 pullets that wanted to sleep on the foor and in my nest boxes. I went in every night to place them on the roosts at night. Most of them got the idea after the second day but a couple took a little longer. They eventually got the idea and now they all roost. Just keep placing her up on the roost at night she will figure it out sooner or later. Hopefully sooner then later.

 

[2mnypets]

If it continues, you may have to block them from getting to the nests for a couple of days. You're getting close to the point of them laying so I wouldn't block it for very long.

 

[keljonma]

Do you have golf balls in the nest box? 17/18 weeks is about the time we installed our nest boxes for our first flock and all the girls took great interest in them. I've never had a pullet sleep in the nest boxes that wasn't broody.

 

[Lunachick]

The nest doesn't have anything in it but shavings, I think they like it cause it's cozy. There is just the two of them and they are inseperable. I think I'll just keep putting them on the roost til they get it. I'm trying not to spoil them too much (yeah, right). Thanks guys - I'll just keep at it!