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.

 

[SourRoses]

The second roost bar is so close to the other it's not functionally a second roost.
They also look like very thin bars. Not comfortable.

Most of our adult roosts are 2x4s laid flat.
I recently got my biggest hen a 6 inch wide roost bar with rounded edges for one section. She loves it, claimed that spot the first night and she won't let anyone try to push her away. Which is good because small birds tend to poo on an extra wide roost. But this is more comfortable for her big self, I even caught her roosting during the day between meals.
I feel bad I didn't think about this before, I just happened to spot the wood in the hardware store and it came back to me that her grandfather (also really big), picked an 8 inch wide plant stand as his "bed" even though it was much lower to the ground than all his hens roosted, contrary to chicken instinct.
In fact, he appreciated that it was low, like azygous wrote about.

 

[mj0]

The second roost bar is so close to the other it's not functionally a second roost.
They also look like very thin bars. Not comfortable.

Most of our adult roosts are 2x4s laid flat.
I recently got my biggest hen a 6 inch wide roost bar with rounded edges for one section. She loves it, claimed that spot the first night and she won't let anyone try to push her away. Which is good because small birds tend to poo on an extra wide roost. But this is more comfortable for her big self, I even caught her roosting during the day between meals.
I feel bad I didn't think about this before, I just happened to spot the wood in the hardware store and it came back to me that her grandfather (also really big), picked an 8 inch wide plant stand as his "bed" even though it was much lower to the ground than all his hens roosted, contrary to chicken instinct.
In fact, he appreciated that it was low, like azygous wrote about.

They are 1x2's. Looks like I'm going to build some type of lower roost for them.

 

[azygous]

I use peeled four to six inch diameter pine branches as roosting perches. The roundness is comfortable for chicken feet and the large size is a comfortable base on which to rest the body. And doesn't cost anything except a little effort.

 

[Bsmac]

I just made a cover for the nest boxes out of some scrap paneling installed hinges on the top with hooks and a chain. The girls like the shade the cover provides as well as a bit more privacy. If they start sleeping in the nest boxes I lower it. Then in the morning I open it back up! After a couple of days all is well!