Pullet in a Nest Box

[LilJoe]

Hello,

I have an easter egger pullet that sits in the box for days. Well, she would if I let her. She has been wanting to stay in the nest box since October. I know what you're thinking, "LilJoe, there is a simple explanation. Your pullet is broody." But, no....no... she is not broody. I have has dozens of broodies and she is not broody. Is there a reason why she stays on the box?

 

[Welshies]

She is probably sleeping in there or sick. Does she ever roost? If she is sleeping in there, kick the habit asap or she may never figure out that's where she has to lay. Is she laying? She may be broody but show no signs (some chickens don't). Is she sick? Check for milky eyes, open beak when breathing, large, squishy crop, is she eating or drinking normally?

 

[LilJoe]

She sleeps in there and just sits in there for 'no reason'. She doesn't roost on her own, but when set her on the roost she just hops back down and get in a nest box. Even if she can't see she finds a way. She hasn't been laying since it got really cold, but that's normal. She is not sick and shows no symptoms of being so. She does eat and drink normally and has a full crop at night.

 

[Welshies]

Can't see? Is she blind?
Sounds like you've got a case of the nest box roomie, LilJoe. Pullets that get in this habit often find it hard to learn that the nest box is their laying spot, not sleeping spot.
Are your roosts situated above your nest boxes?

 

[ChickNanny13]

What makes you say she's not broody?

 

[LilJoe]

What makes you say she's not broody?

She doesn't sit the same way my other broodies do, she hasn't plucked and sometimes she skips a cpuple days of going in the box.

 

[LilJoe]

Can't see? Is she blind?
Sounds like you've got a case of the nest box roomie, LilJoe. Pullets that get in this habit often find it hard to learn that the nest box is their laying spot, not sleeping spot.
Are your roosts situated above your nest boxes?

Can't see as In it's too dark. Yes, the roosts are higher than the boxes.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I had 5 Wynadottes, 3 took turns going broody and not all pulled feathers. When broody they do leave the nest to eat, drink & poop.

 

[Welshies]

Can't see as In it's too dark. Yes, I have a 'ladder' roost of two sections.

Hmmm... sounds like your coop is pretty dark.
I suggest kicking her out of that nest box. Seperate her if need be with a roost only to "train" her to roost.

 

[LilJoe]

I had 5 Wynadottes, 3 took turns going broody and not all pulled feathers. When broody they do leave the nest to eat, drink & poop.

I know they leave every once and awhile, but sometimes she skips a couple days.