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Pooping in the nest boxes

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by SassyKat6181, Jun 21, 2011.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jun 21, 2011 #1
    SassyKat6181

    SassyKat6181 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I just moved the 12 week old pullets into the big girl coop and I have found them sleeping and pooping in the nest boxes. We have a ladder roost, so there is plenty of room for everyone. I cannot block the nest boxes as the big girls usually lay early morning before I let them out to range. Any suggestions?
     
  3. Jun 21, 2011 #2
    Nonny

    Nonny Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mine do this too. I have three girls, two nests, and only one girl laying yet. Each morning one nest has an egg, the other nest is full of poop. I usually go in there daily and clear out any poop... I figure until I get proper roosts (I have a stupidly designed coop with roosts that lead right into the nest boxes) they're keeping nice and warm in there, and at least one nest is staying poop-free.
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2011
  5. Jun 21, 2011 #3
    stargirl

    stargirl Chillin' With My Peeps

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    The only way I found to avoid this was to pop down before bed & open the nest boxes & stroke the girls sleeping there to gently wake them. Mine will then move forward onto the roosting bars to get away from the annoying woman, and go back to sleep. It hasn't really worked to break them of their habit, though...
     
  7. Jun 21, 2011 #4
    SassyKat6181

    SassyKat6181 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Aug 30, 2010
    Western Mass
    The roosts are on the opposite side of the coop from the nest boxes. I suppose for a few nights I could go down after "lights out" and move them to the roosts.
     
  9. Jun 21, 2011 #5
    Kaeta44

    Kaeta44 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    North Yorkshire, England
    My lot do the same thing - I never have a poo-free nest box. There's usually not much, so I just remove the poo when I remember. The hens don't seem to mind if the nest is clean or dirty, I wipe the eggs anyway and don't lose sleep over it.
     
  11. Jun 21, 2011 #6
    Happy Chooks

    Happy Chooks Moderator Staff Member

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    Northern CA
    My Coop
    Make sure the roosts are higher than the nest boxes. Move them every night to the roosts until they get the picture.
     
  13. Jun 21, 2011 #7
    one slick chic

    one slick chic Out Of The Brooder

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    Jun 14, 2011
    lake hopatcong, nj
    I have six girls and they insist on sleeping 3 to a box. I also always find my littlest girl roosting fast asleep on top of the six foot fencepost. I have to take her down every night and put her in the house to shut down for the night. Will they still lay in the nesting boxes when the time comes or is this just a nest to sleep in now?
     

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