Why Were My Hens in the Nesting Box at Night?

[myawesomepullets]

So I have five hens, five months old, and (I think) three are laying right now. We have one early morning layer, one midday layer, and one afternoon layer. Last night I went out to close up the coop for the night (it was already dark by then) and two of my hens were in the nesting boxes. I don't know if they were trying to sleep in there, or maybe even lay eggs? We had only gotten 2 eggs yesterday, not 3 like usual, so that is part of why I was wondering if they were in there laying eggs. If they are trying to sleep in the nesting boxes, how do I get them to stop?!?!?

 

[aart]

If they are just starting to lay they might have had a late egg and got 'caught n the dark'.
Just move them to the roost after dark, it should smooth out within a few weeks.

We had only gotten 2 eggs yesterday, not 3 like usual

Remember that not every bird lays every day.

 

[myawesomepullets]

If they are just starting to lay they might have had a late egg and got 'caught n the dark'.
Just move them to the roost after dark, it should smooth out within a few weeks.


Remember that not every bird lays every day.

Yes, I figured that probably they weren't laying eggs. Tonight if they are trying to be in the nesting boxes again, does that mean that they are trying to sleep in there?

 

[aart]

Tonight if they are trying to be in the nesting boxes again, does that mean that they are trying to sleep in there?

Probably.

 

[wf1992]

My young ones were sleeping in nest boxes, and my theory is that that's where they slept with mom, so that's where they felt safest. Pretty annoying finding poop in the nests every morning (tiny poops, so obviously the littles).

I tried pulling them out after dark to put them on roosts but they'd freak out, resulting in more retreating to boxes than when I initially came in. As they've gotten bigger and become part of the flock in their own right, they've started roosting.

A few days ago I put a camera in the coop, and have noticed them all roosting now. I'm hoping this means they've grown out of it, and I won't have to retrain them by blocking the nests at night.

 

[myawesomepullets]

Probably.

I checked the nesting boxes this morning and there was a poop in there - so I'm pretty sure they're sleeping in the nesting boxes. Why is this caused and how can I stop them from doing it?

 

[aart]

I checked the nesting boxes this morning and there was a poop in there - so I'm pretty sure they're sleeping in the nesting boxes. Why is this caused and how can I stop them from doing it?

Either take them out of nest and put on roost after dark,
or block nests off an hour before roosting time and uncover after dark or at first light.

 

[myawesomepullets]

Either take them out of nest and put on roost after dark,
or block nests off an hour before roosting time and uncover after dark or at first light.

Thanks for the help!! They are no longer in the nesting boxes at night.

 

[RcoM]

I figure you were lucky. I had young pullets who just started to lay go broody! At least it wasn't that!