Rooster in nest

[brightonchicks]

For about a week whenever we go to lock the chickens up at night our rooster Elmer a black australorp is in the nesting box instead of on the roost. Any idea why he is doing this? He is almost a year and a half old and has never done this before.

 

[sourland]

Is he apparently healthy? He may have found the warmest spot in the coop.

 

[brightonchicks]

Yes he appears very healthy.

 

[21hens-incharge]

If he is a big fellow getting on a high roost can be a pain but getting down can be really painful. How high are your roosts from the floor?

 

[brightonchicks]

There are 3 levels of roosts, none higher than 4 and a half feet. The nesting box he gets in is higher than where he normally roosts.

 

[Pork Pie]

I'd suggest making your nest boxes below the height of your lowest roost if thats possible.

CT

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think CTKen nailed it on the head.

I do one thing differently in that I keep my roosts only 2 foot off the ground. The large breeds I have do NOT like them higher. I had them at 3 foot and found EVERYONE sleeping on the floor except the bantams.

My nest boxes are at floor level and at 14 inches high.

 

[Pork Pie]

I think CTKen nailed it on the head.

I do one thing differently in that I keep my roosts only 2 foot off the ground. The large breeds I have do NOT like them higher. I had them at 3 foot and found EVERYONE sleeping on the floor except the bantams.

My nest boxes are at floor level and at 14 inches high.

I also keep my roosts about that height above the ground. I lowered them because my heavy breeds seem to injure their legs (slight limps) when getting down from higher roosts. Having said that, i lift the fatties down every morning to try and avoid limping hens.

CT

 

[21hens-incharge]

They do have a way of letting us know what they need. When I put the lower roosts in there they had a great discussion about it while hopping up and down off it. The first night the lower roost was in there were no hens on the ground.

Luckily my fatties are not needing a boost down. I do have one and only one that now sleeps in the nest. Her leg was deformed at hatch so she cannot jump at all. She is the only one I let sleep in the nest. She is now almost 6 years old and still gets around well just cannot jump or run.

 

[brightonchicks]

Thank you to everyone helping me in this matter! He is a big guy, we will have to make some changes around here that's for sure.