Pooping in the nest boxes

[SassyKat6181]

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?

 

[Nonny]

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.

 

[stargirl]

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...

 

[SassyKat6181]

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.

 

[Kaeta44]

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.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Make sure the roosts are higher than the nest boxes. Move them every night to the roosts until they get the picture.

 

[one slick chic]

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?