Sleeping in the nest box

[mj0]

I have a coop of brahmas who used to roost, now for the last month only the rooster is roosting, some are in the nest box which we all know what a mess that is or on the floor to sleep. I've tried blocking them off but that hasn't helped. I've not been super consistentaybe a week at a time, but I really need to get them out of the nest box. I took all the bedding out and only left one tub with bedding in it, no change the sleep there with no bedding. Idk if they are just getting to old and large to fly up or what. The yellow is where the nesting box is in the photo.

 

[ANiceKaren]

Hi there! I’ve had this happen a few times before… for a number of reasons. Once because I think they were just cold! I think they found it warmer to be inside the nesting boxes… another time because a rat was bugging them on their roost… also could be because they are just getting older and it’s harder for them to roost high. I’ve experienced it all and truly for me, I just let them do what I think they thought was best for them. They’re all on the roost tonight so mine grew out of the habit! Maybe check roosts for mites… it was always my bigger girls… Brahmas.. Orpingtons..

 

[azygous]

Chickens will sleep in nest boxes when they give up on the competition of selecting roosting spots. It can be a sign that your roosts are not adequate or lack enough space.

Brahmas are heavy chickens. As they age, they become even heavier. I've found that by providing roosts that are low to the ground can solve this problem.

I block off my nest boxes at night to discourage sleeping in them. A funny thing happened in my coop this week. It was morning and I took down the barrier to the nests and discovered a hen already in a nest box. How did she get in there with the barrier up? The clever little twerp sneaked into the nest early before I put up the barrier and was happily inhabiting the nest overnight and into the morning when I finally removed the barrier. I caught her doing it again the next day as I was putting it up.

If you want to break your hens of this habit, you need to be consistent, and then continue to be vigilant to catch any rule breakers.

 

[mj0]

Chickens will sleep in nest boxes when they give up on the competition of selecting roosting spots. It can be a sign that your roosts are not adequate or lack enough space.

Brahmas are heavy chickens. As they age, they become even heavier. I've found that by providing roosts that are low to the ground can solve this problem.

I block off my nest boxes at night to discourage sleeping in them. A funny thing happened in my coop this week. It was morning and I took down the barrier to the nests and discovered a hen already in a nest box. How did she get in there with the barrier up? The clever little twerp sneaked into the nest early before I put up the barrier and was happily inhabiting the nest overnight and into the morning when I finally removed the barrier. I caught her doing it again the next day as I was putting it up.

If you want to break your hens of this habit, you need to be consistent, and then continue to be vigilant to catch any rule breakers.

I've been considering making a removeable lower roost for them. In the spring tho, I'm moving some out and making this current coop for my lights only, and another for the other colors I have.....most of these in this coop I've had for 2 years, I just currently added some young partridge colored ones late this summer and that's when it all began.