Pooping in Nests

[SixToeJoe]

I recently bought property and inherited about a dozen hens and 2 roosters.
I admit to knowing nothing about raising BYC except what I read ( good or bad ).
After 2 months my hens have started pooping in the nesting boxes, which are not close to any roost.
They also now are laying eggs in a corner of the coop, and some of those are black and putrid inside.
This is all very recent behavior, and I "clean' the coop weekly.

 

[centrarchid]

Check to see where they are roosting tonight. If found in the nest then block their access to nest by stuffing them with bags. Remove in morning.

Show a picture of setup when enough post made. Will provide more ensight.


Putrid eggs have been around a while and likely dug up by hungry birds. Reads like birds not in lay.

Feeding regimen; what and how much are you using?

 

[jgfetter]

Check to see where they are roosting tonight. If found in the nest then block their access to nest by stuffing them with bags. Remove in morning.

Show a picture of setup when enough post made. Will provide more ensight.


Putrid eggs have been around a while and likely dug up by hungry birds. Reads like birds not in lay.

Feeding regimen; what and how much are you using?

I agree with centrarchid. I just did the same thing with my nesting boxes. I only took 3 nights if blocking them off and the chicken stayed out.

 

[aart]

Ditto Ditto.

Roosts should be higher, by at least a foot, than the nests to discourage roosting(sleeping) in the nests as they like to be as high as possible when sleeping.