Won't use droppings board?

[RAsChickens]

About a week ago, I changed the pine shavings (the big flaked stuff from Tractor Supply) in the coop, which I do once a month. The droppings board (filled with sand) only spans half the roosts, because the other half they never used. Ever since I changed the pine shavings, they have not been sleeping above the droppings board! Why would this be?

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Because they are chickens.

Did you open any windows or anything when you cleaned the coop? Did you clean the droppings board? Move anything?

 

[RAsChickens]

Because they are chickens.

Did you open any windows or anything when you cleaned the coop? Did you clean the droppings board? Move anything?

I forgot to add I changed the sand in the droppings board aswell. I did take it out to dump it into compost, then put it back right where it was. No, the window can't be opened.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I forgot to add I changed the sand in the droppings board aswell. I did take it out to dump it into compost, then put it back right where it was. No, the window can't be opened.

Sometimes they don't like to jump onto/over strange things. You could move them over at night, so they will poop on it and get used to it.

 

[aart]

Chickens don't like change.
How often to you clean the droppings out of the sand on the board?

 

[RAsChickens]

Chickens don't like change.
How often to you clean the droppings out of the sand on the board?

Once a month

 

[aart]

Once a month

I sift poops out of sand every day or two, doesn't freak out the birds....
...but only change shavings on coop floor once or twice a year, which does freak them out.
Last time no one would walk on them all afternoon.....it was kind of hilarious, I was very glad they went back into coop that night.