My Chickens pooing in nest box but no eggs?

[Zoe88chick]

hi, I'm fairly new to this site. First post and can do with some advice please.
I've had three chickens for two weeks this Monday. Got a good coop good run and free range of the garden most of the day. We brought them at point to lay. I have a light Sussex, and bluebell and a New Hampshire red, they all well behaved I have a two and half year old daughter that strokes them ect. Both the red and blue have their wattle dropped down and combs are goin more red still a little light. The Sussex comb is a lil lighter.
Anyways they never used to go up into the coop or nest boxes untill I kinda made them for bed, they getting better as they not in garden all day now.
But every morning now there's poo in the nest boxes? Is this bad, as I figure they won't want to lay in there if they pooed in there?
And are there any signs when we may get a egg we so excited I think me more than my daughter lol.
Thanks in advance xx

 

[mortie]

They're sleeping in the nest box, which they're not supposed to do. I would block the nest boxes off at night. Do they have a comfortable roost they can sleep on that is higher than the nest boxes? Chickens need a place to roost, and they will try to sleep in the highest spot they can.

Normally there will be no poop in the nest boxes if the chickens aren't sleeping in them.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Welcome to BYC

Point of lay is a general term for any hen over 16-18 weeks of age regardless of if they are ready to lay. It takes a while any before they get used to their new surroundings and feel unstressed enough to lay anyway so be patient!

If the comb isn't bright red like you see in the photo below it might be a while but that isn't the most accurate indication. The best way to tell if a hen is nearing her first egg is to try to pick her up, if she squats like in the photo below then she will probably lay within a week.

Hens shouldn't sleep in the nesting boxes, they should be on a perch so get into a habit of moving them on the perch when you shut them in at night. (It helps with the respiratory systems).

Believe it or not poop in the nesting box is a good sign, it means the hens are checking them out. While you should clean out the coop regularly, hens don't mind poop at all and with lay regardless of poop.

Hope that helps and keep us posted!

ETA - oops forgot the photo -

 

[mortie]

Poop in the nest box can mean they're checking them out.

Or it can just mean they're sleeping in there. Chickens poop where they sleep. Could go either way on that one.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Poop in the nest box can mean they're checking them out.

Or it can just mean they're sleeping in there.  Chickens poop where they sleep.  Could go either way on that one.

I agree

 

[Zoe88chick]

Yes this does help thank you. They have their peaches they seem happy on which is higher than the nest boxes. The night before they poop in the box the bedding hay had been moved which we got excited cuz it's the first time it had been touch and looked like the had made it comfy ( I say they as I'm not sure which one it it) then they next night there's poo in there and it's been every night they done it since. I clean out the coop of poop every morning but give the whole coop a full clean out once a week. I will get some pictures of the girls tomra as the ones I got are from the fist few days of being home or them sun bathing ect. Thank you all again xx

 

[mortie]

Go out after dark and see where they're sleeping. Then you'll know if they're checking it out and pooping in there or just sleeping in there.

 

[Zoe88chick]

Hi Guys jus a quick update, I'm pretty sure it was my ginger goin in the nesting box and pooing, not long after I posted her comb started goin bright red then for the past few days the sqwot that you posted a pic of hens doin she was doing. Then all this morning ginger was in and out of the coop so was keeping an eye then around 11 am she was in there for a while me and my daughter went and checked once she was out and there it was our very first egg! Super eggciting
We over the moon. Thank you for your help guysx

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Wow! What a fab first egg! Congrats

 

[threescompany]

Congratulations!!