Sleeping in the nesting boxes

[38farmgirl]

My chickens are about 18 wks old. They have started sleeping in the nesting boxes. Is that ok? I am very egar for them to start laying eggs. Is there anyting that I can do to promote them to start laying.

 

[epitidios]

I had the same problem. All the baby chicks were sleeping there which meant i had to clean the nests from their droppings. Now that they are elder, for strange reason, they stopped it. I guess yours will do the same.

 

[dreamgirl]

Don't let them get in the habit of sleeping in the nests. Otherwise they poop in them and you end up with poop-covered eggs (and birds). Each evening after dark, take them out of the nest and put them on a perch. This *should* break them of the habit. I say *should*, b/c I have a half dozen hens who 2 years later STILL sleep in the nests

despite being removed each night.

As for encouraging laying in the nests, put a few easter eggs/egg shaped objects in the nests. Depending on their breed they should start laying in the next 2-6 weeks

. Good luck!

 

[rancher hicks]

No it's not ok cuz they poop at night and that's not good. I just keep moving them to the roosts until they get with the program. It's a pain I know but part of the fun in keeping chickens.


Hope for the best

Rancher

 

[rdport]

No, it is not good for them to roost in their nest box...so, if you can, block it off before it is time for them to go up on the roost...hopefully you don't have any really late layers . Then in the morning early, unblock so they can lay.
There will be much discussion about what to do, so you might need to place them on the roost for a few nights. Try to give them time to do it on their own. Just watch and see what happens until it is dark, then move them.

 

[teach1rusl]

Normally I would say block the nest box off till they're about laying age - but yours ARE about laying age. So I would just go out after dark and move them to the roost each night. As others have said...go ahead and stick a golf ball, wooden egg, plastic easter egg (filled with something to give it weight maybe) in each nest, as it shouldn't be long now...