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Pooping in the nest box...

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by lemurchaser, Dec 28, 2009.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Dec 28, 2009 #1
    lemurchaser

    lemurchaser Chillin' With My Peeps

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    So one or more of the chickens are pooping in the nest box and the eggs are getting really disgusting. What can I do?

    I have 7 chickens and 2 nest boxes (although 6 of them use 1 and 1 uses the other). None are broody.

    One of them does sometimes sleep in the nestbox, because the others pick on her so much inside the coop. But this nestbox pooping seems to be happening during the day as well.
     
  3. Dec 28, 2009 #2
    Mahonri

    Mahonri Urban Desert Chicken Enthusiast Premium Member

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    My Coop
    I hate when that happens.

    You'll need to watch and try and modify the behavior of the offender one way or another.
     
  5. Dec 28, 2009 #3
    lemurchaser

    lemurchaser Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I've been washing the poop coated eggs, is that what other people do? I don't usually wash them, but these are getting really gross.
     
  7. Dec 28, 2009 #4
    La Mike

    La Mike (Always Slightly Off)

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    OK I would actually like to know if there is somehow to stop a chicken from dumping anywhere myself
    Mine I believe dont drop chunks anywhere else lol
     
  9. Dec 28, 2009 #5
    CentralKYRedneck

    CentralKYRedneck Out Of The Brooder

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    I just wash my eggs. A green and yellow foam dish scrubby thing takes care of the poo really quick.
     
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2009
  11. Dec 29, 2009 #6
    Chic Chick

    Chic Chick Chillin' With My Peeps

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    East Central Alberta
    Maybe it is warmer in the nest boxes right now? They will roost in the nest boxes if they are higher then their roosts because they will try for the highest spot possible. If there isn't enough space for them to spread out then try to put up another perch and maybe there will be enough distance for the picked on hen. You can also close up the nest boxes for the night and open them in the morning, but that can cause them to start laying on the floor of the coop.
    I just clean them out every week and put fresh straw for them, and it keeps the eggs clean for a few days. LOL it's better to have dirty eggs then to have egg eaters!
     
  13. Dec 29, 2009 #7
    kman

    kman Chillin' With My Peeps

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    hattiesburg,MS
    i am having this exact problem right now, a friend of my told me how to correct it and i am trying it now. he said to take clear plastic and drape it over the nest box at night so they can not get in them, in the morning go back out and roll up the plastic so they can lay. he said after a couple days i couple days i could take it down and all should be corrected

    Mine started this after i add on to the coop in this add on i moved their roost and they became confused on where to sleep. i will try and remember to post an update hear on how well this works
     

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