Sleeping in nest box!!!

[Godiva]

We have a buff orp. roo with a bo hen, two speckled sussex hens and they all cram themselves into the nest box at night!!! I couldn't believe it when I first saw it! Here I am slaving away all day long trying to keep them from dying in the heat and then at night they almost kill themselves by squishing into the nesting box!!! Crazy things! I have taken to removing the nest boxes bottom so that they can't and that seems to have dealt their plan a final blow!

 

[silkiechicken]

Very good. That's going to be a bad habit when they get to laying eggs.

 

[eggchel]

Yes, birds who are allowed to sleep in the nest box poop it up and your eggs end up filthy.

Best to nip it in the bud.

chel

 

[Godiva]

They are laying already, tonight when I went to remove the bottom there was only one in the box with one roosting on the edge and two on the actual roost. So hopefully they will settle down and give up on the nest box. By the way how do you clean a poopy egg? Can one still use it? I have a couple that sat in poop all night and they are thoroughly stained - should I just toss them?

 

[2mnypets]

Should you decide to keep the eggs don't wash them in cold water. Cold makes the pores open up. The barrier that keeps the bacteria and such out will be broken. Also don't soak them in water as the same thing can happen.

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

There are a few good thread on here about cleaning eggs.. especially if you look for threads by me... LOL... had a few discussions on cleaning eggs (mainly under egglaying) also you can search google for 'cleaning poultry eggs' Tons of information.

Good luck
Tes

 

[silkiechicken]

I do believe that you want to use water warmer than the egg when washing because the temperature will cause inside egg stuff to expand thus not pulling in possible bacteria into the shell. The pore sizes can't change in the shell since it's a hard calcium structure. Using cold water will cause the egg to contract thus pulling stuff in though the same pores. After you wash though, you have removed the bloom and eggs will not keep as long. Just fully cook it and you'll be fine

 

[SandraChick]

My sister had to "teach" her chickens to roost. Every night, after dark, she'd take them out of the box and set them on their roost. A few got it within a couple days...most were roosting within the week.

Sandra

 

[chrisrob]

I just purchased five pullets and they are also sleeping in the nest box. Could I cover up the nest box at night to ensure they perch on the roost? Thanks for any help.

 

[gretchen]

I never thought of it before reading this post but my 15 week olds are all sleeping in their nesting boxes... I checked them last night and 4 were in one, 3 in one and the last one empty. Since they are not laying yet should I just cover up the entrance to the boxes? I thought this chicken raising thing was supposed to be easy....