Roost above nest boxes

[kristen6325]

Hello,
New chicken owner here. Have 3 Buff Orpingtons (3 months old), who love to roost above the nesting boxes. Not yet laying. Poop piles up in the nesting boxes. There is another two roosting bars in the coop. Is it cruel to take out the roosting bar they love, so they choose another roost? Poop piles up in nesting boxes. We do daily "magic water", and I ferment their food, so I am less concerned for parasites. Just wondering how big of a problem this is in reality, and whether it warrants taking the bar out. They have ONLY ever used this one bar of the 3 for some reason. (maybe cuz its by the coop window?). any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Ted Brown]

You should provide information about the coop (size, layout, ...) and pictures so that folks can provide useful advice.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Hello,
New chicken owner here. Have 3 Buff Orpingtons (3 months old), who love to roost above the nesting boxes. Not yet laying. Poop piles up in the nesting boxes. There is another two roosting bars in the coop. Is it cruel to take out the roosting bar they love, so they choose another roost? Poop piles up in nesting boxes. We do daily "magic water", and I ferment their food, so I am less concerned for parasites. Just wondering how big of a problem this is in reality, and whether it warrants taking the bar out. They have ONLY ever used this one bar of the 3 for some reason. (maybe cuz its by the coop window?). any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Chickens like to roost high. So the highest area is the place they choose.
I moved my 2 by 4 wood roost to a higher level in an area it is okay for pooping.
In the beginning I was always trying to figure it out - what would work better.
Good luck.
When you say bar? Is it wood? I tried different roosts the hens really like a 2 by 4 with the larger part up.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Without photos of the set up I'd say remove/relocate any roosts above the nests, or if they're sitting on the top of the nests themselves, slant the top so they can't stay on.

 

[kristen6325]

My apologies on no pictures. I don't have a Smart Phone. Thus no pictures. Thanks for the advice, everyone.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Can you install poop trays under the roosts? Or build tops over the nests? Sounds like your nests are open-top. Fix that and your problems will be resolved, I think. Poop trays are a wonderful thing, if they are actually TRAYS with lips all around and can hold, say, half an inch of sand, you can scoop out the poop every morning like you would a cat box.

 

[Ted Brown]

My apologies on no pictures. I don't have a Smart Phone. Thus no pictures. Thanks for the advice, everyone.

You could use words to draw pictures. Basics like dimensions, openings, # of nests, anything...

 

[Penpal]

They are heavy birds and will go to the roosts later than lighter birds. Since they are not using the nests remove them if you can. When you find eggs in March, probably, add one nest and put a couple of golf balls or hard boiled eggs in the nest. When she starts to use the nest, you can add a second nest. You don't need more than two nests for three hens. You may only need one.

If you can't remove the nests boxes or take down the walls they are sitting on, block access to them until you start finding eggs.

They won't lay before they are 6 months old, and even then they may not depending on the length of day.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Can you install poop trays under the roosts? Or build tops over the nests? Sounds like your nests are open-top. Fix that and your problems will be resolved, I think. Poop trays are a wonderful thing, if they are actually TRAYS with lips all around and can hold, say, half an inch of sand, you can scoop out the poop every morning like you would a cat box.

Poop trays are nice. Make sure it is wide enough for their tails. We made ours 24 inches and a rooster in middle and one narrow roost and the bigger birds didn't fit so we are revamping.
Trial and error baby! That is my motto keep working at it til it works for you.

 

[kristen6325]

You could use words to draw pictures. Basics like dimensions, openings, # of nests, anything...

dimensions: 4 by 6. 3 nest boxes on the 4 foot wall and perpendicular to two high roosting bars that extend above two of the nesting boxes 2 to 2.5 feet above. i did put nesting boxes on a slant, as suggested by one member, but am now wondering how that will be useful when they actually start laying, since I doubt they will want to sit in a slanting nesting box. it seems installing a poop tray above nest boxes and below roost would be the best option, but i am unsure how to "install" one, unless I got my handy man over here.