Still sleeping in nesting boxes, should be laying soon...

[cjp4]

I posted the issue several weeks back about my 4 girls cuddling up in 1 of my nesting boxes. I took y'alls advice and blocked off the boxes for about 3 weeks. I only recently took the cardboard off of the boxes as I was thinking that my older girls (19 weeks) should start laying soon. Much to my dismay, they all jumped back into the nesting box as soon as it was opened. My questions... 1. Is this going to be an issue when they start laying? I do have boxes that will allow the egg to gently roll backwards for easy retrieval. 2. Do I even worry about it from this point? 3. When should they start laying? I have 2 Milles, a Silver Laced Wynedotte, and a Speckled Sussex. Thanks for the input, I greatly appreciate it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

1. Yes, because if there's poop in the nests, that's going to be poop on the eggs too. Even if you're willing to clean it out daily it's really a hassle.

I would continue to block nests before dusk daily and then if you think a bird is close to laying (see below) unblock once it's dark.

3. It depends... 19 weeks is still young for many birds and especially with days shortening (assuming you're in the northern hemisphere) it can take a little longer for them to come into lay. Look for plump, reddened combs and wattles, birds messing with the nests (not sleeping in them, just exploring them), squatting. You can also check their vents and between their pelvic points to see if the vents are reddish and moist and the pelvic points have widened.

 

[aart]

Why are they sleeping in the nests?
Are there older birds keeping them off the roost?
Is the roost higher than the nests?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Why are they sleeping in the nests?
Are there older birds keeping them off the roost?
Is the roost higher than the nests?

^^^ This! Chickens want to sleep as high up as they can get. Make sure the roosts are the highest point they can get to and they will stop sleeping in the nests. Put roost bars above the nests, even if the roosts are just a few inches higher than the nests, that should do it. Good luck.

 

[WaterfowlsPoultry]

^^^ This! Chickens want to sleep as high up as they can get. Make sure the roosts are the highest point they can get to and they will stop sleeping in the nests. Put roost bars above the nests, even if the roosts are just a few inches higher than the nests, that should do it. Good luck.

This 100% is the issue. (I think.)
My chickens would sleep on the nesting boxes instead of the roosting bars, This is because the nesting boxes were higher than the roosting bars.

So to fix it I placed my roosting bars higher up and boom, The hens only went to the nesting boxes to lay eggs and went to the bars to sleep

 

[WaterfowlsPoultry]

Are there older birds keeping them off the roost?

If my first claim is not the answer it is probably this one ^

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Ever notice that @aart rhymes with smart? Teehee. She's good!

 

[cjp4]

I wish that all those were the issue. My roosting bar is the highest point in the coop. They spend plenty of time on the bar in the afternoon but at night they will all cozy up in one box.

I have seen the older birds on the bar with the youngers, so that is not an issue. The older girls seem to go into the box first and my younger Milles will snuggle up with my older girls, usually underneath them.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Can you post a pic of your setup, the nests and roosts? We will have to dig deeper.

 

[cjp4]

I've been trying but right now the system won't let me upload any pics. I'll keep at it.