slleping in nest box instead of on roosting poles

[rhuxol]

I have 3 chickens just over 3 months old and we build what we thought was a perfect little coop for them modeled off many of the coops on here. So all three of the chickens sleep and mess in their nest box at night instead of using their 3 roosting poles at various heights. They are not laying obviously yet....once they start laying will they stop sleeping in there? The roosting poles are made out of like rounded off 2x2s ballaster (sp) type poles. The nest box is opposite of the roosting poles, and the food and water are on a different wall as well, so everything has it's own area. Any help would be appreciated!!!

 

[Theapplechicks]

I'm sure they will catch on soon. Mine are 13wk and have just started to realize what it's for. THey sit on it during the day here and there and then go back to the nest box at night. They will catch on. My last batch did the same.

 

[swmalone]

I sealed off my eggs boxes at night for a few days, this seemed to help.

 

[rhuxol]

Ok I will try to seal off the nest box for a little while an see if they figure it out, thanks!

 

[jhook1997]

Up until this week, we were having the same problem. Huge mess in the nesting boxes and ours are due to start laying any day now. For the past three nights we have gone out just after they get settled in and moved them. We go in quickly and quietly, take them out of the boxes and put them on the roosting poles. After 3 nights of this, they got it! Last night we went out after midnight and all 16 were on one pole together and there are actually two poles. We plan to check again tonight, but I think it's working. Good luck!

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes, you definitely have to block off those nest boxes as babies will try to sleep in them instead of roosting at night. I had to do the same thing. It only took a week of blocking off my nest boxes, and they completely forgot about the boxes. Now it is near laying time, I hope they remember they are there!!

 

[Chicky Chick Mama]

We had that problem so each night we removed them from the nesting box and placed them on the roost (after dark) and they got the message really quickly!