Why are my 10 week old hens all going into one nesting box

[drumstick diva]

It might help if you would post a photo of the nest boxes and your roosts. Maybe the roost poles are too narrow for them or too close to a wall.

I wouldn't build a box so they could cram into it instead of the nest box. It would be furthering bad habits.I know you said you could clean the box BUT, do you really want poo all over their eggs when they start laying.

 

[farmhouse1888]

Yes, the nesting boxes do have a shelf/ledge for the girls to use.

The roosts are not higher than the boxes though... they were premade by the Amish. Very nice house, the roosts are 1"x2"

 

[missnu01]

I am unsure why my hens are all gong into one nesting box.  I feel they may smoother each other.  I made a box for them on the floor & they have gone up higher.  There are 3 boxes up higher. They do not use their roost.  They seem scared.  It is 60-70 degrees here at night & I am not using the heat lamp anymore.  Could they be cold?  There are 8 of them?  Thank you very much.  These are backyard chickens.  They have a nice big walk-in hen house & their own yard about 10x20 feet.  I love these girls.

sometimes you have to show them them and show them and show them again to roost..I take mine and put them on the roosts every night until they get it. If you do it after bedtime they tend to not as readily hop back off the roosts...

 

[cabinchicky]

There is part of the issue, roost is not higher than boxes. Yes pics may help to figure this out as Drumstick said.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

It can take time for babies to learn to roost. Just make sure the roost bars are accessible. Use a very easy ladder to navigate, or easy to walk up steps. Place them on the roost bars during the day. And as Kelsie has said, sleeping in the nest boxes is not good. So I would block those off for now until they are ready to lay and get out of the habit of wanting to sleep in them.

Good luck with your new babies and welcome to our flock!

 

[farmhouse1888]

There is part of the issue, roost is not higher than boxes. Yes pics may help to figure this out as Drumstick said.

sometimes you have to show them them and show them and show them again to roost..I take mine and put them on the roosts every night until they get it. If you do it after bedtime they tend to not as readily hop back off the roosts...

It might help if you would post a photo of the nest boxes and your roosts. Maybe the roost poles are too narrow for them or too close to a wall.

I wouldn't build a box so they could cram into it instead of the nest box. It would be furthering bad habits.I know you said you could clean the box BUT, do you really want poo all over their eggs when they start laying.

Yes, the nesting boxes do have a shelf/ledge for the girls to use.

The roosts are not higher than the boxes though... they were premade by the Amish. Very nice house, the roosts are 1"x2"

Ok thank you very much. I have closed off the nesting boxes for now. I have been showing my girls the roost poles. I will post a picture.
I just am not sure I understand how the roost can be higher than the boxes...

 

[gander007]

15 week old EE pullets and see how close they are and right now my swamp cooler is covered with EE pullets nothing uncommon about what they are doing and the temp here is over 90 F degrees at night ........

 

[farmhouse1888]

Hello

and Welcome To BYC! X2, you don't want them to get used to sleeping in the nesting boxes... chickens poop when they sleep and it leads to dirty nests and eggs if you let them develop the habit. People usually close off the nesting boxes until the pullets are of laying age, or be sure and take them out and put them on the roosts at night until they are doing it on their own. You might want to see if you can make the roosts more attractive to them, make sure they are easy to get on and off of ... ladder type system or roosts/something at multiple heights to get up to them, and be sure the highest roost is higher than the nest boxes since chickens usually like to sleep as high as they can get.

Hello and Welcome!! Your nesting boxes should have a small shelf or roost in front of it so the girls can jump to it. The roost itself should be higher than nests as Kelsie said. But what is your roost made of? Did you use 2x4,dowel rod,limbs from trees?

Just wanted to get back to you & thank you again for your help. I closed off the nesting boxes & have made a new roost, very high above the boxes, about 4 1/2 feet up. I made it out of a very thick dowel rod. The girls love it. I had to help them on for several nights & now they are managing better. They stay there all night. But they do sit on top of eat other & all go to one end. Perhaps they are trying to stay warm. Thanks again. So much help & I appreciate you. Lynne

 

[farmhouse1888]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

It can take time for babies to learn to roost. Just make sure the roost bars are accessible. Use a very easy ladder to navigate, or easy to walk up steps. Place them on the roost bars during the day. And as Kelsie has said, sleeping in the nest boxes is not good. So I would block those off for now until they are ready to lay and get out of the habit of wanting to sleep in them.

Good luck with your new babies and welcome to our flock!

It might help if you would post a photo of the nest boxes and your roosts. Maybe the roost poles are too narrow for them or too close to a wall.

I wouldn't build a box so they could cram into it instead of the nest box. It would be furthering bad habits.I know you said you could clean the box BUT, do you really want poo all over their eggs when they start laying.

sometimes you have to show them them and show them and show them again to roost..I take mine and put them on the roosts every night until they get it. If you do it after bedtime they tend to not as readily hop back off the roosts...

There is part of the issue, roost is not higher than boxes. Yes pics may help to figure this out as Drumstick said.

Just wanted to get back to you & thank you again for your help. I closed off the nesting boxes & have made a new roost, very high above the boxes, about 4 1/2 feet up. I made it out of a very thick dowel rod. The girls love it. I had to help them on for several nights & now they are managing better. They stay there all night. But they do sit on top of eat other & all go to one end. Perhaps they are trying to stay warm. Thanks again. So much help & I appreciate you. Lynne

 

[farmhouse1888]

I would like to understand a bit more about a ladder? They do seem to be able to fly up to this new roost. But it is high!