pooping in nest boxes!!!

[rosemarythyme]

There is about 18 inches of unoccupied roost to the right of me in the photo...6/7 of the girls cram together every night and then there are the 2 to 3 goof balls who roost in the nests.

We purchased the coop from a guy in Maine and it is made for up to 15 hens, it is 5x7 feet.

Your coop space is too tight especially for a cold climate. I agree with DobieLover that 9 is a little more realistic, though if you get extended periods of very cold/very nasty weather then you'd want more than just 4 sq ft per bird, as they may spend more time indoors.

For now you can block off the nest boxes at night with some cardboard or wood scrap, but you may find those birds on the floor instead. Another roost bar somewhere would also help, as it's likely these are the low ranked birds and they're getting harassed when trying to roost even though there's space left.

 

[WindingRoad]

If your chickens are sleeping in the nest boxes because there is no room left on the roost, your coop is either too small or you need another roost.

My BO and ISAB have always slept in the nest boxes. Even when they were the only two in there. 12 square ft. Plenty of room for them but they like the nest boxes. Now that I have 4 birds. The BO sleeps on a roost with the 2 SLW.

 

[WindingRoad]

Mine do the same thing...they use it as a chicken potty. If there is no room on the roost bar, some of them sleep in the nesting boxes. I just clean it out and put in fresh shavings. And then they kick out the shavings to lay eggs, sigh. I just purchased two of those Free Range Covered Nesting boxes....I will probably swap those out and see what happens!
Good website here: https://www.communitychickens.com/7-criteria-for-a-good-nesting-box-giveaway/

My birds lay overnight so I don't mind them in the nest boxes. I'd like them to lay eggs there so they don't get trampled on in the coop. I have running water in my house.

 

[MissChick@dee]

If it were me it looks like it would be easy to add a roost going across the width of your coop (opposite direction of current roost) it looks like there’s some braceing boards already in place. You’d have enough space to make parallel bars (roosts). After those are in place I’d close off the boxes a hour before sunset and remove the “block” first thing in the morning. You could use something simple. My coop is very small and I just used a cut peice of chicken wire to fit in the area. Was easy to put in and take out. Best wishes

 

[MissChick@dee]

My birds lay overnight so I don't mind them in the nest boxes. I'd like them to lay eggs there so they don't get trampled on in the coop. I have running water in my house.

The only problem with that is they poop while they sleep and their back ends get dirty. Caked on poo can lead to a host of problems.

 

[Cryss]

Put up more roosts and either make those nest walls as tall as the nest roof so they can't get on the wall or just remove that dividing wall completely.

 

[WindingRoad]

The only problem with that is they poop while they sleep and their back ends get dirty. Caked on poo can lead to a host of problems.

I've not noticed that. They poop in the corner and move forward. Boxes are fairly big. My chickens is smart. LOL

 

[funnyfoshay]

still sleeping in nesting boxes!
We built up the walls of the boxes. I added another ladder. I stuffed a big bulky paper bag in one of the nesting boxes- one of the girls pushed it out onto the coop floor (just like they tossed the ceramic eggs to the floor ) So funny.

 

[aart]

So nest dividers are still not high enough...and 'roosts' look rather uncomfortable.

 

[flyin-lowe]

I would make roosts wider somehow. In the cold they like to huddle together. Plus it looks like that that angle they will be pooping on the birds below them. Like others have said, just because the guy you bought the coop from told you it was big enough for 15 birds doesn't mean it is. 4 sq. foot of coop space is the most common guide. This would also not include inside nest boxes etc. So if the footprint of your coop is 35 square feet it could house 8 birds. But if you have next boxes, feeders, etc. inside the coop then less then 8 would be better.