Nesting boxes are beds/toilets...will my girls ever lay in them

[Thyme4Chickens]

Of COURSE you can!

Right on!

 

[Birdsong 82]

Yep I think you’re just covering those nesting boxes until morning they’ll get the picture after a while. How thick are the rungs on those ladders? My girls usually don’t like to roost on anything less than about 3 inches wide. And maybe you could try to put the ladder at more of an angle so it almost seems like they’re a little farther from each other. And your girls are beautiful

 

[lazy gardener]

If the ladders have metal rungs, that will give them severe frost bite in the winter. Hens like to roost together. A narrow ladder will force them to roost at multiple heights, while roosting on nest box tops lets them roost at the same height. I'm guessing you have a pre-fab coop. Most likely it is too small for the needs (minimum recommendation is 4 s.f. of open floor space per bird), and not tall enough. (birds should have 18" between perch and ceiling. They should also have at least 12" between back of perch and back wall, as well as lots of room in front of the perch so they can jump/fly down without doing a face plant on the wall in front of them. You might also look at your ventilation: recommendation is 10% of floor space or 1 s.f./bird.

 

[Birdsong 82]

If the ladders have metal rungs, that will give them severe frost bite in the winter. Hens like to roost together. A narrow ladder will force them to roost at multiple heights, while roosting on nest box tops lets them roost at the same height. I'm guessing you have a pre-fab coop. Most likely it is too small for the needs (minimum recommendation is 4 s.f. of open floor space per bird), and not tall enough. (birds should have 18" between perch and ceiling. They should also have at least 12" between back of perch and back wall, as well as lots of room in front of the perch so they can jump/fly down without doing a face plant on the wall in front of them. You might also look at your ventilation: recommendation is 10% of floor space or 1 s.f./bird.

Now that you mention it I do notice most of mine tried to cram them selves on that top pole. I think it’s a combination between all of them wanting to roost together and seems to be that they all want to be by the rooster to. About how many square feet is your coop. Posting this size might help us figure out the problem

 

[Peppercorngal]

QUOTE="funnyfoshay, post: 20227519, member: 510156"]View attachment 1470384 View attachment 1470383[/QUOTE]
I can see why they roost in the nest boxes. They aren't very boxy and they are higher than the roost you have! I agree with Mroo you need to add roosts that are higher. Take out the ladder. I put black marks on your photo to show you where to put roosts. Also I'd "box" in the boxes a little more. Put in a "roof" and put in a 3 inch minimum bottom ledge. That way when they lay the eggs won't roll onto the floor! Your chickens are adorable! Good luck!

 

[mosse71]

build your roosts at a similar angle maybe a little less steep as that ladder and put the perches all the way to the ceiling. mine all fight for the highest perch.