Bellagrl
Songster
My chickens keep pooping in all the roosting boxes. Any suggestions?
Poop in roosting box
- Thread starter Bellagrl
- Start date
Do you mean, their nesting boxes? This is generally because they are sleeping in them instead of roosting at night.
The best way to curb that sort of behavior is to physically move any 'misplaced' hens nightly to the perches- either at lockup or shortly after dark so they are not inclined to relocate themselves. Repeat until all hens are consistently roosting on their own.
Some are stubborn, but this will eventually change their behavior unless there are other problems, such as space issues or roost bullying. These additional issues will need to be resolved before you get any lasting results.
The best way to curb that sort of behavior is to physically move any 'misplaced' hens nightly to the perches- either at lockup or shortly after dark so they are not inclined to relocate themselves. Repeat until all hens are consistently roosting on their own.
Some are stubborn, but this will eventually change their behavior unless there are other problems, such as space issues or roost bullying. These additional issues will need to be resolved before you get any lasting results.
Are they sleeping in the nests at night?
Any roost improvements since this issue?:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/not-roosting.1340945/post-21979979
Roosts should be significantly higher than nest boxes. This is a common problem with tiny prefab coops from feed stores and other places.
One thing you can do is get some plywood and block off the nests in the afternoon so the chickens can't sleep in the nests and are then forced to roost elsewhere.
One thing you can do is get some plywood and block off the nests in the afternoon so the chickens can't sleep in the nests and are then forced to roost elsewhere.
Looking at your other post, there's not really any room for them to spread out. If you have a bully problem, one bird could easily get 'forced' off the roost and end up sleeping in the nesting box as its only other option.
I have a hen who is particularly pushy at bedtime and will go out of her way to kick out my youngest if the two are side by side. My hens are very confident with their coop and will risk moving around at dusk and generally, the bully will play nice while I'm watching and try to sneak in a peck or two once she thinks I've left them for the night - going out of her way to shimmy across the roosts till she gets to the younger hen. I've had to intervene to curb this behavior and this is in a situation where there is plenty of roost space for all.
I have a hen who is particularly pushy at bedtime and will go out of her way to kick out my youngest if the two are side by side. My hens are very confident with their coop and will risk moving around at dusk and generally, the bully will play nice while I'm watching and try to sneak in a peck or two once she thinks I've left them for the night - going out of her way to shimmy across the roosts till she gets to the younger hen. I've had to intervene to curb this behavior and this is in a situation where there is plenty of roost space for all.
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