pooping in nest boxes!!!

[rosemarythyme]

Are those ladders intended to be additional roost space? Seems to be crowding out the longer roost towards the top of that bottom photo plus because the angle is so steep any birds on the lower rungs will get pooped on.

Id take out the ladders and maybe see if there's a spot across from the longer roost to run another longer roost bar. Maybe make it hinged so it can swing down at night and then get secured up to the ceiling during the day.

 

[funnyfoshay]

The top photo is as it was with the old lower nesting box walls. They have stopped roosting on the nesting box walls, because the walls are too high now. So they have switched to sitting in the boxes all night. These 2 girls just wont join the other girls on the ladders or roost. I guess it is a social issue??View attachment 1683517

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.

Now that you mention it, both of these girls have had pasty butt situations. I had to bring them inside and clip off huge clumps of dried on poop. One almost had her entire vent occluded with poop. I thiink if I had waited one more day she would have died.

 

[funnyfoshay]

The coop is 5x7 ...its not paradise for 9 birds but it isnt abusive by any means either. I have tried to rehome a couple girls but in Winter in MA no one will take on a change in their backyard flock...or start a new flock!!

The roost that was built into the coop is 6' long runs the length of the coop. I added 2 ladders which some of the girls like to use. It is just the 2 who sleep in the boxes. I am worried about kicking them out with barriers becuase my hubby might forget to remove the barriers in the a.m. and the girls might just be "lost" without their regular beds.

 

[funnyfoshay]

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

The top photo is Before I built up the walls of the boxes. Now that we built them up you can see in the bottom photos that they don't roost on the walls anymore, they sit in the boxes instead...hahaha!

 

[funnyfoshay]

Are those ladders intended to be additional roost space? Seems to be crowding out the longer roost towards the top of that bottom photo plus because the angle is so steep any birds on the lower rungs will get pooped on.

Id take out the ladders and maybe see if there's a spot across from the longer roost to run another longer roost bar. Maybe make it hinged so it can swing down at night and then get secured up to the ceiling during the day.

hmmm, interesting. I can't picture the swinging roost. At first only 3 or 4 girls were sleeping in nesting boxes. I added the ladders and now only 2 girls do it. Now when I check on them we have 2 in the boxes 2 to 3 on one ladder, 2-3 on the long roost and there is alot of poop but no hens on the second ladder. I am curious about removing one ladder but also nervous!

 

[aart]

Maybe try to put one of those ladders horizontally, under the 'real' roost and just a bit higher than nests, would afford more (and more 'comfortable') roost space.

 

[Cryss]

I see that picture # 1 is the before and picture # 3 is the after of the nest walls. It looks like there is only an inch or two of triangular space, not enough for a chicken to try to roost upon. Good!
Now the roosts. I believe that is your problem. As @aart said, they don't look comfortable. The ladder is a steep angle not allowing room to fly up to easily or stand up as the rung above them is in the way and has another chicken on it which will poop on the one below it. I can't really see the other roost well but I think it goes along the side wall. How far from the wall is it? It needs to be a foot away. You could add another on the opposite wall, again 1 foot away from the wall, also at least 1 foot between the roosts. Considering the size of the coop there might not be much room to be able to fly up to the roosts. Can they be placed 1 foot above the floor?
Now, the coop size. 5x7 does accomadate 8-9 chickens. Do the nests sit on the floor? If so their dimensions must be subtracted from the floor space. Example: 3 nests 1sqft each means you have lost 3sqft from the coop living space. You're now down to accommodating 5-6 chickens. Your top six chickens have claimed the prime roosts. Your other 3 are not naughty, they are simply at the bottom of the pecking order. One way to remedy this could be to rebuild the nests on the outside of the coop freeing up that space and probably making it easier to make comfortable roosts and take out ladders.
I hope you can work this out. Your girls are all so pretty I'd never be able to get rid of any!

 

[Cryss]

The roost that was built into the coop is 6' long runs the length of the coop

Yup. 6ft long roost is good for about 6 chickens. Some are using the ladders because the original roost is blocked a bit by the ladder(s). Low hens on the pecking order are forced to sleep in the nests and , yeah, poopie butts are guaranteed. Good luck, looking forward to seeing end results!

 

[The Lazy L]

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

5' x 7' = 35.
35 / 4 = 8 (rounded up) Coop is large enough for 8 chickens.

There is about 18 inches of unoccupied roost...

18 inches is not enough space for the three that sleep in the boxes.

 

[rosemarythyme]

hmmm, interesting. I can't picture the swinging roost. At first only 3 or 4 girls were sleeping in nesting boxes. I added the ladders and now only 2 girls do it. Now when I check on them we have 2 in the boxes 2 to 3 on one ladder, 2-3 on the long roost and there is alot of poop but no hens on the second ladder. I am curious about removing one ladder but also nervous!

Wish I could remember who on here has hinged roosts so you could see an example - generally they're attached to the ceiling or a wall with bolts, and can be swung down at night and locked in place for roosting, then during the day secured flush against a wall or with a hook holding it up to the ceiling. It's an interesting way to maximize space.