Sleeping in nest box

[Molliep2]

I have two young pullets who have recently started to sleep in the nest box. How can I prevent them from doing this? Thanks!

 

[Darrinhuns]

you can either close up the nest boxes at night or provide other roosting spaces. I keep my nest boxes low to the ground so the chickens feel like they need to get higher if they even think about sleeping in one
Hope this helps!!

 

[Mtnboomer]

Just wait. Do nothing. My pullets sometimes do the same when first introduced to the coop at 4 mos. Eventually, they roost with the others.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Do you have other, actively laying, birds in the coop? If not, close the boxes completely. ..if so, close them a bit before roost time and reopen in the morning.
I use cookie racks hung from screws as they are easy to put up/take down

 

[Darrinhuns]

And then after a little while they’ll get the swing of things

 

[GC-Raptor]

I used gallon size vinegar or windshield washer jugs.
I wedged them in about an hour before sunset for a few days. .
Then removed after dark when I lockup the coops or when I open the coops before sunrise at 5 am.
Of course roosts should be higher than nests. GC

 

[Chicken Tacos]

I feel like I'm missing something, is there a reason people discourage birds from nesting in the box?

 

[Hortgirl]

I feel like I'm missing something, is there a reason people discourage birds from nesting in the box?

I feel like I'm missing something, is there a reason people discourage birds from nesting in the box?

Sleeping chicken-poop, poopy nesting box-poopy eggs

 

[aart]

I have two young pullets who have recently started to sleep in the nest box. How can I prevent them from doing this? Thanks!

Need more info @Molliep2
Do you have other birds?
How old are all your birds?
Pis of your coop inside and out would help immensely here.

 

[Ridgerunner]

There can be different reasons chickens sleep in nests. It's easier to put a stop to it if you know why they are doing it. Aart's questions are good. What are the numbers and ages of all your birds? Size and what the inside of the coop looks like, photos really helpful. Especially interested in the relative height of nests versus roosts and how much roost space you have.

In addition, where were these two sleeping before they moved to the nests? Are these two laying, do you have other birds that are laying?