Sleeping in Nesting Boxes

[Metanoia]

I've read quite a few sources today that say you shouldn't allow your chicken to sleep in a nest box, but I haven't seen a reason why aside from that eggs may get messy.

One of my pullets has just started sleeping in the nest box and I want to know whether I should change this behaviour or let her go. I am expecting it won't be too long before they start laying.

 

[tankernav1]

I have the opposite problem. Mine love their roost at night but have JUST starting laying---we have 2 eggs in the last 24 hours from our 8 ladies. However we just find them on the ground around the coop. They don't even go up into the top area of our coop where the nesting boxes are. I'm thinking they just don't understand what is going on yet..."hhmmm...what is that thing...small and round....oh my goodness I was sitting on it......"

 

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

I have all of the eggs out by bedtime anyway. So they'll never get messy. The nests look way more comfy to me that those dang ole roosts. I'd be all curled up in a nest aslong as the hay was fresh.

 

[M To The Maxx]

Maybe they feel that there are to many chickens in the coop and on the roost.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
You'll end up having to clean the nestbox materials all the time, instead of once a week or so; especially if one of the chickens leaves a cecal (runny, nasty) poo in the nestbox. Best to keep the poo under the roosts and not in the same place your eggs are being deposited. Take my word for it.

 

[Judy]

I agree that poopy eggs are just not acceptable. No sleeping in nest boxes is allowed here.

Is your roost wide enough for them? Chickens do not like round roosts. The wide side of a 2x4 is minimum. A huge roo will need more than this. If they have a comfortable roost, they will prefer it. In the wild, they nest under bushes and sleep in treetops.

 

[Metanoia]

I discussed it with my partner and while he doesn't see a problem we've agreed that we'd rather clean less than more, so tonight I lifted Elsie out and onto the perch. I'll see how that goes after a few days, and this weekend I might re-evaluate their perch and see if we have anything else in the shed I could use instead.

Here they are, incase anyone has any other suggestions for me. I think they have enough perching space for 6. What do you think?

 

[DLS]

I see what the trouble is in the picture .... Your roost is to low!! they will roost as high as they can raise the root HIGH -- way high---& that will solve your troubles more easy.
Dan

 

[Mahonri]

Roosts must be higher than the nesting boxes.

 

[Skamaghetten]

Quote:
Mine gave up on the coops perch and sleep in the trees now. The tree limb is only the size of a quarter.