"roosting" in nesting boxes...how to stop it?

[greytmommy]

the new babies of the bunch (who are almost 5mths old) keep roosting int he nesting boxes for the night! Not the roosts!!! how do I get them to stop? they are making such a mess of it......

I only have a few older chickens, and my coop is HUGE so there is plenty of room for them to roost far away from the older chickens if they want.

 

[devora]

Are the boxes lower than the roost? What about the path to the roost, is it OK for a younger bird?

I would put them to bed. Just set 'em on the roost. Takes about a week or so, usually less.

Bedtime story optional.

 

[Beekissed]

Agreed...block the nests and train them to the roost. Won't take long.

 

[greytmommy]

ok thanks!
blocked the boxes last night. They were NOT happy trying to figure out who should be allowed on the highest roosts....

 

[luckylindy]

Did it work? I have been thinking about putting velcro or some other not comfy to roost on material on the edges of mine to see if they will relocate.

 

[jhammett]

I am having this same issue. Idecidd today that when I get home I will use extra welded wire fencing material to make a sloping wall to prevent them from getting up ontop of the boxes and also to close the entrances. My birds are 7 weeks old so I dont really need the boxes yet. I will leave the boxes barricaded off ntil about week 16 or so. That should be long enough to get them trained. Considering closing off the whole assembly perch boxes and all. Will post pictures after I am done. I did the same for my warter yesterday tired of poop on top of the bucket.

 

[jhammett]

Ok I have completed the alteration to the nesting box. Here are some pics to show what i did.



I alos too this perch the bird is on down and installed a higher roost. Hoping they learn before they start laying so i can open the boxes and reattach the perch.