Nesting boxes

[Woody03]

My pullets are sleeping in the nesting boxes at night. Should I be concerned? I do have the boxes filled with shavings and straw.

 

[iwiw60]

If they are not laying yet you should block off the nesting boxes completely. Don't let them get in the habit of sleeping in there. Nail up some plywood or whatever...

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! X2, try not to let them get into the habit of sleeping in the boxes since they will poop in them. Block off the boxes until they are ready to lay (if they are already laying kick them out of the boxes/ close them at night, and put them on the roosts). Make sure your roosts are higher than the boxes and the roosts are easy to get onto for them, usually a ladder like system or something for them to jump onto the roosts from, and that your roosts are big/wide enough to be comfortable for chickens... it may take a week or two of kicking them out of the boxes but most chickens prefer to roost and will get the idea.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Yes, babies and pullets like to do that at first. If you don't have any adult birds laying, block off the nest boxes until they are ready to start laying. If you do have adult birds that are laying, just block off the boxes at night only. When you go to shut them in at night, get them all up on the roost bars. They may keep jumping down, but each night keep putting them back up there. Eventually they will get the idea that they need to sleep on on the bars.

Enjoy your young flock and welcome to ours!

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! I agree just block off the nesting boxes to get them used to sleeping on the perch instead. Good luck to you!

 

[cuckoo4chickenz]

I need to check and make sure my ladies are not sleeping in there nest boxes. Im not even sure they roost <----

 

[gander007]

X 4 definitely try to keep them out if you can ....

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[chickie farmer]

I have one that sleeps in the nest and out at daybreak. The other hens won't want her beside them. so they pick at her until she jumps off the roost and goes in the nest boxes to get away from them. She feels much safer there. If she poos, on the bedding, I just clean it up. most of the time she doesn't. When I add on, shortly, I'll have to do something different.