Sleeping chickens!

[t_williams8]

It appears our chickens are not sleeping on the roost but rather in the nests. They are still laying eggs but the are making a mess of the nests. Is this a problem and how do you recommend I get them to sleep on the roost or elsewhere.

Ty

 

[Rte.66_chicks]

Pick them out of the nest boxes and put them on the roost. Most of mine use the roost now, but I am still fighting with one stubborn hen. It may take a week or two. From what I have read on here, it's best if the roosts are higher than the nest boxes, because they like to roost as high as they can.

 

[digitS']

If you can close them out of the nests late in the day - do that. Hens usually lay during morning hours so that means you need to be out there to open the nest boxes early, early.

They will learn the routine of roosting elsewhere.

Steve

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Here's some more comments from another thread. It seems to be a common problem.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=89613