My 2 month old girls are pooping in their nesting boxes - Yuck!

[CountryCentinel]

The boxes are standard construction, they do have a 3" board on the front to hold the bedding inside, and I suspect though I haven't actually seen it, that they are roosting on that board?

They are only 9 weeks old, does that have anything to do with it?

Thanks!

New site looks cool too... ;-)

 

[Creed Bennett]

Chickens shouldn't have access to nesting boxes until they are 5 or 6 months old. Also keep nesting boxes lower than roost poles.

 

[ScottM]

Why do the nesting boxes need to be lower?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Roosts is where a chicken sleeps and poops, a lot!!! If the nesting box is as high as the roost, they'll sleep and poop in them. An immature pullet does not need an open nesting box. This just engrains a bunch of bad habits.

 

[Baymen Moe]

Close off the next boxes until laying age. I used a panel of hardware cloth to keep them out of the nest boxes. Make sure your roosts are higher than the nest boxes and they should stay out of the nests once they get the hang of sleeping on roost.