Sleeping in the box

[rubycal]

Why is it discouraged for hens to sleep in the box? MIne started to do this when the nights became chilly, and three of them will stay together to keep warm. Its not actually cold enough for the heat lamp, just chilly. Plus I just introduced some more hens so they will have more body heat. They come out in the morning and the layer uses the box no problem.

 

[Roosterlover5]

Most people don't like there hens sleeping there because they'll poop in the boxes and when they lay their eggs they aren't clean.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yup. it's pretty much about the poop. Nasty, imho.

Likely the pecking order, and thus, the roosting order got disturbed when you introduced other birds. Likely, cold has nothing to do with it, but rather timidity about the other birds.

 

[mickey328]

3 of our 6 prefer to sleep in the boxes...and yeah...icky eggs...don't like that. We fixed a flap on the front and put it down late in the afternoon after the laying is done and before they go in for the night. Amazing how clean the boxes and eggs have been since then!