The nest box is not a toilet!

[Mixedbirdies]

Ok. My chickens have gotten on my nerves a bit lately. I’m pretty sure that they think the nest box is a toilet! At night instead of roosting on the roost with all the others, one of them likes to roost on the front board of the nest box and get poop all over the eggs. I’m not sure how to get her to stop. Any suggestions?
(Top picture is the nest box, bottom is the roost.)

 

[CannedMonster]

View attachment 1610994 View attachment 1610993 Ok. My chickens have gotten on my nerves a bit lately. I’m pretty sure that they think the nest box is a toilet! At night instead of roosting on the roost with all the others, one of them likes to roost on the front board of the nest box and get poop all over the eggs. I’m not sure how to get her to stop. Any suggestions?
(Top picture is the nest box, bottom is the roost.)

Block the nest boxes off at night.
Unblock them during the day so they can lay in them.

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

The roost bar might not be wide enough for her. A fatter limb might help

 

[CannedMonster]

The roost bar might not be wide enough for her. A fatter limb might help

Yes I agree.
Two inches in diameter seems to be the minimum for comfort.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Is the board in front of nest box higher than roost bars? They will roost whichever is higher and more comfortable. . Nest boxes in this coop are on the right. Bar for nests is lower and narrow. GC

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I have the same issue with one of mine. No advice, though...sorry. I have tried all the advice given on here and it works temporarily, but then she goes back to roosting on the edge of the nesting box again. I raised my roosting bars, blocked off the nesting boxes at night for a while, and even physically moved her every night for some time. She always goes back to it. My nesting box lip is thinner than the roosting bar also, so I have no idea why she prefers it. I just make sure all eggs are out before dusk, and scoop poop out in the morning.

 

[Mixedbirdies]

Is the board in front of nest box higher than roost bars? They will roost whichever is higher and more comfortable. View attachment 1611043. Nest boxes in this coop are on the right. Bar for nests is lower and narrow. GC

Yes it is but they are on opposite sides of the coop so I thought maybe that wouldn’t matter.

 

[Mixedbirdies]

Yes I agree.
Two inches in diameter seems to be the minimum for comfort.

All the others seem to be ok with it though.

 

[Mixedbirdies]

Block the nest boxes off at night.
Unblock them during the day so they can lay in them.

I’ve thought about that. I just need to figure out a good way to do it.

 

[andreanar]

Your roost bar needs to be higher than the nest boxes. They like to roost high. Also, it might help to use a 2x4 type board instead of a branch, so that they can cover their feet with their body in the cold weather. After raising your roost board, block off the nests at night until all birds are consistently roosting in the right place. Picture of a suitable roost board.