YO GEORGIANS! :)

[lalaqueen]

I have a Serena, that the nankin  Bantam's want to pick on if she goes up on the roost at night even though basically close to the same size. So built her a small little box, attached it to the wall f my coop close to the roosting bar, put in some straw and that is where she sleeps, no one bothers her. But I have to block off the nesting boxes before she goes to roost, otherwise she will sleep in the nesting box. Trying to get her trained to go into her box and not the nesting box.

All mine sleep in the nesting box. Is that bad?

 

[lalaqueen]

I have been in very poor health and am in need of a home for my beautiful white Silkie roo. He is the only Chicken I have left and I have been wondering if GA MARANS is still around?

Is your silkie a rooster ? Just curios

Oops! Never mind!

 

[eqserman]

All mine sleep in the nesting box. Is that bad?

Good question, not sure if its bad, but it saves a lot in that I don't have to clean nesting boxes every day, just clean her little box. If someone else has a opinion or the pros or cons of sleeping in the nesting boxes would hope they would chime in.

 

[JoshFig]

Good question, not sure if its bad, but it saves a lot in that I don't have to clean nesting boxes every day, just clean her little box. If someone else has a opinion or the pros or cons of sleeping in the nesting boxes would hope they would chime in.

They poop while they sleep - I would think that would make a mess of your nesting box and have to clean it almost every day. If you can keep them on their roosts and use deep litter - you can eliminate having to clean out the boxes (just rake the deep litter and put some fresh shavings in from time to time).

I'd had one hen lay late and try to camp out in the nesting box. I pulled her out after dark and sat her on the roost. No issues with sleeping in the boxes since.

 

[eqserman]

They poop while they sleep - I would think that would make a mess of your nesting box and have to clean it almost every day. If you can keep them on their roosts and use deep litter - you can eliminate having to clean out the boxes (just rake the deep litter and put some fresh shavings in from time to time).

I'd had one hen lay late and try to camp out in the nesting box. I pulled her out after dark and sat her on the roost. No issues with sleeping in the boxes since.

Well she won't stay on the nesting bar as my napkins and nankin roo and other bantam will peck her and not leave her alone. So yes agree keeping her out the nesting boxes saves her from pooping in their, and have made a small box just big enough for her to sleep in and put straw in it and mounted on the wall, close to the roosting bar, still needs to be cleaned, but not as big or as bad as cleaning the nesting boxes. Unfortunate though cannot get her to sleep in t if I do not block off the nesting boxes before she goes to roost, have tried and tried to no avail.

 

[PapaChaz]

They poop while they sleep - I would think that would make a mess of your nesting box and have to clean it almost every day. If you can keep them on their roosts and use deep litter - you can eliminate having to clean out the boxes (just rake the deep litter and put some fresh shavings in from time to time).

I'd had one hen lay late and try to camp out in the nesting box. I pulled her out after dark and sat her on the roost. No issues with sleeping in the boxes since.

^^this^^

they poo while they sleep, so if they're sleeping in the nest box they're pooping in there and that's why you have to spend so much time cleaning your eggs

sometimes if they're wanting to camp out in the nest box it can mean they're trying to go broody

 

[PapaChaz]

Well she won't stay on the nesting bar as my napkins and nankin roo and other bantam will peck her and not leave her alone. So yes agree keeping her out the nesting boxes saves her from pooping in their, and have made a small box just big enough for her to sleep in and put straw in it and mounted on the wall, close to the roosting bar, still needs to be cleaned, but not as big or as bad as cleaning the nesting boxes. Unfortunate though cannot get her to sleep in t if I do not block off the nesting boxes before she goes to roost, have tried and tried to no avail.

because you've trained her to do so. I'd almost bet that the nest boxes are higher? their instincts tend to make them want to roost as high as they can for self preservation. Or maybe the nest boxes make her feel more hidden and secure. I'd say just make her roost with the others and she'll acclimate to being the lowest in the pecking order and they'll all live happily ever after

 

[JoshFig]

^^this^^

they poo while they sleep, so if they're sleeping in the nest box they're pooping in there and that's why you have to spend so much time cleaning your eggs

sometimes if they're wanting to camp out in the nest box it can mean they're trying to go broody

I didn't see your earlier post (sorry about that) - interesting challenge. How long have the hens been together? Would it work to just leave her in the 'general population' and let them work out their pecking order? In my experience - its rough for awhile but eventually they work it out. If you have a really weak hen - they may kill her - but there is not really anything you can do to protect her short of putting her in a fully isolated pen. Chicken's can be brutal - but they usually work it out.

 

[lalaqueen]

They do poop on their nesting box! My son in law built me one of those tractor coops and it has been a great thing but now I know it is lacking in many ways.
I'm going to be building a new coop... Do you think I'll be able to break this habit ?
Also, I added wood chips to the whole ground area and it was just dark muddy dirt and so when my leghorn (my favorite) saw it she didn't want to walk on it... She jumped up on a box and the hopped to different things until she could get on top of the coop and then she clucked until I finally went and carried her to bed!! Today none of them are walking around! Hilarious !!

 

[ShadesofSable]

My two Sussex pullets are still doing well and the worse off of the two is getting much more alert and interactive! She still looks really gruesome though.

On the plus side, all the extra TLC has made them extra friendly. I've been bringing them inside at night, and when I let them out this morning they followed me right down to their little pen.