When do they need nest boxes??

[mkarll717]

Hey, I'm new to chickens.. so I am still figuring out behaviors. In my coop I have roosting bars and some tree branches.. but all 14 chickens insist on stuffing themselves all in the door way between the run and the coop. I spend 10 min getting them all out of the door way so I can shut it for the night. They are 7-8 weeks old now. Silly question I am sure.. but do they need nest boxes to sleep on/in? Are they looking for a "cubby" to sleep in? In the picture, the two lights on back wall are windows basically. To the bottom right is where they all stuff themselves at the top of the ramp.

Thanks

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Hey, I'm new to chickens.. so I am still figuring out behaviors. In my coop I have roosting bars and some tree branches.. but all 14 chickens insist on stuffing themselves all in the door way between the run and the coop. I spend 10 min getting them all out of the door way so I can shut it for the night. They are 7-8 weeks old now. Silly question I am sure.. but do they need nest boxes to sleep on/in? Are they looking for a "cubby" to sleep in? In the picture, the two lights on back wall are windows basically. To the bottom right is where they all stuff themselves at the top of the ramp.

Thanks

You don't want them to associate you nest boxes with a sleeping space - they are poop machines in their sleep (this is why poop boards under a roost are so effective as a lot of waste that accumulates in a coop is under the roost so the use of the board helps to collect the majority of coop waste for easy removal) - and sleeping in the boxes in which you will later want them to lay eggs will make for some nasty, poop covered eggs.
They are young and it is pretty normal for them to sleep piled on the floor vs. roosting. They are also creatures of habit, so just keep moving them and they'll start learning to settle elsewhere vs. being disturbed by you every night. Eventually they will take to roosting at night and the problem will be further solved.

 

[mkarll717]

Thanks! That answers all my questions I kind of assumed you wouldn't want them in nest boxes, I just wasn't sure why they weren't roosting. But they are young, so they have time to figure it out.

Thanks for your help!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Nest boxes are for laying eggs in and should be provided by the time they reach about 16 weeks. Sleeping in nest boxes should be discouraged. The nests should be elevated slightly above the floor to keep bedding and feces from being scratched in. Roosts should be significantly higher than the nests so they don't sleep in them as when they get older they'll want to sleep as high as possible.