New Hens Stay in Nesting Boxes All Day

[porchet]

I'm brand new to chickens. 1-1/2 weeks ago I got my first two hens - 20 wk old white leghorns. We built a 2-story coop. Top floor has three nesting boxes and the perch. Bottom floor has the food, water and grass. The hens stay in the top floor all day. If I go jostle them out, they'll eat for five minutes and then go back up. I leave the door open so they can free range but they won't even leave the coop. No eggs yet. Should I just leave them alone?

 

[cinch920]

Weird. That breed isn't known for setting.. and I don't think they're even old enough to even want to set yet..

 

[tadpole98]

I'm brand new to chickens. 1-1/2 weeks ago I got my first two hens - 20 wk old white leghorns. We built a 2-story coop. Top floor has three nesting boxes and the perch. Bottom floor has the food, water and grass. The hens stay in the top floor all day. If I go jostle them out, they'll eat for five minutes and then go back up. I leave the door open so they can free range but they won't even leave the coop. No eggs yet. Should I just leave them alone?

I would put something over the nest boxes so they cant get in, then maybe they will go out. But they will go in their own time, some chickens are out and about quickly, some are cautious and stay where they feel safe for a bit.

 

[porchet]

I can actually shoo them out and then close the sliding door to the upper level. Maybe I'll give that a try. Thanks!

 

[panyo85]

Hi there,

I just bought 2 production pullets from my feed store yesterday. They are about 12 weeks old and are doing the same thing....staying in their nesting box all day, had to shoo them out and now they are staying in the shade..sleeping...

I don't get it? Is this normal? are they just adjusting to their new home?

 

[Den in Penn]

I'm brand new to chickens. 1-1/2 weeks ago I got my first two hens - 20 wk old white leghorns. We built a 2-story coop. Top floor has three nesting boxes and the perch. Bottom floor has the food, water and grass. The hens stay in the top floor all day. If I go jostle them out, they'll eat for five minutes and then go back up. I leave the door open so they can free range but they won't even leave the coop. No eggs yet. Should I just leave them alone?

Some takes a while for them to feel comfortable enough to venture out. If the feed is down stairs and since they now know if, I'd leave it to them to come out when they get hungry and thirsty.

Hi there,

I just bought 2 production pullets from my feed store yesterday. They are about 12 weeks old and are doing the same thing....staying in their nesting box all day, had to shoo them out and now they are staying in the shade..sleeping...

I don't get it? Is this normal? are they just adjusting to their new home?

With chickens that have been partially raised it is common for them to sleep in the nest boxes, at least at first. Chances are that they never have seen a perch and only have slept on the floor. If you have time before they will start to lay block the nest boxes off so they don't get into the habit of sleeping in them. It might help to put the on the perch at night for a while.