Pooping and Roosting on Nest Boxes

[ldrwnorman47]

My hens have a very nice roost and no one uses it. I dont know what I did wronge. They roost on the nest boxes and there is poo everywhere!!!!
Help..

 

[gogoalie]

You'll hafta cover the nestin' boxes with slanted wood if you don't want them roostin' & a poopin' on yer nesting boxes...Then, if they decide to roost in their nesting boxes, you'll hafta cover their nestin' boxes as well...

 

[mamabigbird]

I agree. You have to break that habit. I have two stubborn hens that always try to sleep in the nest boxes. I go in just before dark and remove them from the nests and place a board in front of the nest opening. And then first thing in the morning you remove it so they can lay their eggs. Or you can go back in after it's completely dark and remove the board. They won't move after dark.
Also I do have a slanted roof over the nests but a few of the girls manage to sleep up there anyway so I put a piece of slippery plastic on it and now they stay off there.
Good luck. It's not so easy to outsmart a chicken, but it can be done.

 

[swimmer]

I covered our nest boxes with a slanted piece of plastic. Enough of a slant they can't roost on it. To keep my girls out of the nest boxes I take gallon milk jugs and place them in the next boxes. Take them out in the morning. Or, like big bird, take them out after dark.

 

[chseeads]

I second the various comments that have been made already.


Sometimes it seems more like you end up with chickens nesting in the poop boxes than pooping in the nest boxes though.

Silly birds.

 

[Annabella]

They seem to like to roost in the highest spot.
Are you nesting boxes higher than the roost.
Also the other error is the roost itself is sometimes too narrow.
The girls seem to like to be able to squat down and cover their feet.
Good luck

 

[33yardbirds]

I agree with slanting the top of the boxes. I also tacked aluminum flashing to it so they couldn't get a grip. I think I went about 45 degrees.

 

[mamabigbird]

Quote:
OOOH! Aluminum flashing. Brilliant! My slope is about 45 degrees too. I think we have some sheet metal hanging around or even corrugated tin.
Even if they can hold on the poop would be easier to scrape off.
Eventually most of the hens learn to roost with the others, it's just the "chicken-heart" newbies that try to sleep in the wrong places.
Patience and a good scraper with a dash of humor wins the day.

 

[alaskafarmgirl]

Quote:
I told my husband that chickens can be very mentally challenging...and I need a chicken support group. I totally agree; they're not easy to outsmart sometimes, but it CAN be done! I give them A LOT of thought! :O)

 

[kano]

Quote:
This is , in most cases, the reason.