Bern H Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I did my usual check on the girls last night, just before extra time in the footy and noticed as in previous nights the girls are sleeping in the nest box and not on the roosting bars. Is this normal? I must say they look very content. As a consequence the nest box is getting used as a toilet which I'm clearing every morning. I don't know, you buy a fancy chicken house with a state of the art removable droppings tray that never gets used! cheers Bern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Mine seem to sleep in the nesting box as well although some obviously aren't allowed in as there is always a large amount in poo tray close to the nesting box I think you are supposed to put a fake egg or golf ball in if you want them to sleep on the roosting bars (I think thats right) and then they realise that they are supposed to lay eggs in the nesting bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I know . Chickens . Mine used to sleep (and poo) in the nestbox but they've moved onto the roosting bars now. I very rarely get poop in the nest now. You can try putting a flowerpot or brick in the nextbox overnight but if they tend to lay early in the morning, you'd have to get up to remove it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I think you are supposed to put a fake egg or golf ball in if you want them to sleep on the roosting bars (I think thats right) and then they realise that they are supposed to lay eggs in the nesting bit. That might be stretching their reasoning powers a bit . It certainly is supposed to encourage them to lay there but I don't know if they'd then go, don't think we're supposed to sleep there as well, I know, let's move to the roosting bars . Sorry, don't mean to take the mickey, it just made me chuckle, the thought of chickens "thinking" . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I had 1 who always slept in the nesting boxdrove me mad cleaning it every day but when they started laying she stopped, fluke or maybe she thought of it as a place to lay eggs not sleep? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bern H Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 Thanks for the feedback. Just checked them and they are snuggled up in the nest box. Sounds like they will grow out of it though. What is it with animals, just like the dogs they follow you round the garden waiting for treats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Sounds like they will grow out of it though. What is it with animals, just like the dogs they follow you round the garden waiting for treats! Errrr......nope...... mine didn't. I've got 1 that sleeps (and poos) in the nest box and 3 that fill the poop tray. I just let her carry on. The nest box has Auboise in it which soaks up quite a lot of poo and sometimes I have to wipe down the eggs but then I'm just a soft touch really and don't lay down the law..... Mine think they are dogs too.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 I have 2 eglus and 2 that always sleep in the nest box Sometimes I have 4 chickens in one eglu and poor Shirley in another on her own. I then feel bad for her and have to shuffle them all around. Aubiose in the nest box helps. You can then scoop out the offending material in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
