My rooster is sleeping in the nest box! What do I do!??!

[chicks4kids]

I got my first rooster today, a Polish, and I went out to lock up the coop and see what perch in the coop he had decided to claim, and low and behold he has claimed the nest box that ALL of my hens lay in. I have 5 nest boxes, and they all only use this particular one.

So, is he just doing this to prove something to them (or himself) or will this be a regular thing? I just don't want him pooping in there. My girls keep this box immaculate. Should I just set precident and shoo him out now??

Anyone with experience on this?? Thanks!!

 

[Mahonri]

Pick him up and set him on the roost. You might have to do it for 6 to 10 days until he realizes you mean business.

 

[Attack Chicken]

I had to go sit 8 of my chickens of the roost :\\ They didn't want to go up there and kept jumping off so I climbed in the litte 4ft x 4ft x 4ft coop and kept putting them on the roost until they stayed. The lil turds!

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

i agree with mahonri. just about dark, when he first goes to rest, pick him up and place him on a roost. if he hops down then let him settle where he wants and if it not on a roost then pick and place again until he stays put.

 

[chicks4kids]

Thanks everyone, I just went out there and moved him--boy, thank goodness he was raised/handled all of his whole 1 year of life. He was super sweet although not wanting to get out. He did though, and moved to another nest...so, with a little nudge and push and more pushing him out from the back by the egg collection lid he decided to step forward onto a perch. He's still sitting there for now, but I gather it won't be either for long or a second night...

One of the girls perches faithfully directly above him every night. She might just get even for all of his boasting about and introducing himself today!!

 

[joebryant]

Are your roosts higher than your nest boxes? It's natural for chickens to go as high as they can. If your roosts are higher than the nest box, I can't imagine what that rooster's up to.

 

[chicks4kids]

Yes, my roosts are higher than the nest boxes, and the girls definitely have proved your point. They go as high as possible!! Hopefully he will stay put for the night, and find a better spot tomorrow!!

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
You better come to my house then Mahonri because my hens WILL NOT LISTEN! I put them on the roosts every night and they still sleep in the nest boxes.. EVERY NIGHT.. For two weeks I even put cardboard infront of the majority of the nest boxes that they slept in. That worked, then all slept on the roosts. But as soon as I took it down... WHOOSH... back in there...

 

[millerwb]

Some of mine start in the boxes, but they are young and have not started laying yet.

 

[Me&Chooks]

Haha sounds like a fussy roo

I have one hen out of 17 that sleeps in the nest box at night, Iunno why but I let her off the hook as the one uses that particular box

I think its because she gets pecked often

Could be why your roo is in the nest, as you have just got him maybe the girls haven;t accepted him yet so hes keeping his distance.