Silkies Sleeping in Nesting Boxes

[ChloeSilkie08]

Does anyone have any tips for getting silkies to stop sleeping in the nesting boxes? I have 6 who insist on sleeping in 3 nesting boxes and they get pooped in ruining my eggs. I can't clean the nesting boxes every day.
Thank so much,
Chloe

 

[nuthatched]

Provide them roost bars at their own height, maybe 6 inches. Silkies can't fly at all or jump very high.

 

[Peggysaurus]

My chickens were doing the same thing. When we bought our coop, it had a door that led to the nesting boxes. We were able to open and close it if we wanted to. Once we started closing it when it was time to put the chickens away, they started sleeping on the roosting bard instead. We tried opening it one night after we kept closing it for a couple of weeks, and they stayed on the perch instead of going on the nesting boxes.

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

Provide them roost bars at their own height, maybe 6 inches. Silkies can't fly at all or jump very high.

My roost bar is that low. They just refuse it. I have 4 that sleep on the bar and 6 that don't.

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

My chickens were doing the same thing. When we bought our coop, it had a door that led to the nesting boxes. We were able to open and close it if we wanted to. Once we started closing it when it was time to put the chickens away, they started sleeping on the roosting bard instead. We tried opening it one night after we kept closing it for a couple of weeks, and they stayed on the perch instead of going on the nesting boxes.

Thank you!

 

[Peggysaurus]

Thank you!

No problem!

 

[aart]

My roost bar is that low. They just refuse it. I have 4 that sleep on the bar and 6 that don't.

Is the bar long enough for all the birds?

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

Is the bar long enough for all the birds?

Yes, it is.

 

[aart]

Pics of roosts and nests might help here.
Blocking nests off an hour before roost time is the best way I've found to break that habit.

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

Pics of roosts and nests might help here.
Blocking nests off an hour before roost time is the best way I've found to break that habit.

How do you block your's off?