Should hens sleep in nesting boxes?

[cricket1975]

I have 3 leghorn and 4 rhode island red hens. They are 16 weeks old. They've been sleeping in their nesting box for quite some time. I read somewhere I should block the nesting box off? Not sure what to do?

 

[dsqard]

I think the main reason to discourage this is so the nest boxes stay cleaner. If they are sleeping in the boxes they are probably pooping in the boxes. If they are only laying eggs in the boxes, there is a lot less mess.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Chicken pass an incredible amount of poop while sleeping. Sleeping in the boxes should be highly discouraged. If the roosts are higher than the boxes, they'll choose the roost as they feel safer up high. If chicks or pullets are sleeping in the nesting boxes, block them off until such time as the chickens use them for their intended purpose.

 

[newchickgal]

Can you give them a low roost for them to sit on at night? Chicks love to be up higher and this may be the reason. Mine have a roost so at night they sleep there and have no interest in the boxes until the time of day that they lay.

 

[Wynette]

To block off nest boxes - easy as putting wadded up old feed sacks or small buckets in at night. But you must remove them early in the morning- they should be "open for business" all day long.

 

[flowergirl60]

I have 3 hens and one older one always goes to the nest box to sleep. There is not alot of poop in the morning so I just let her sleep there if she wants.