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[suzie72]

We have two hens that haven't yet laid eggs (arrived last week) but one is sleeping in the nest box. Is this normal? What do we do to stop it happening and why is she doing it?

 

Any answers gratefully received

[chelsea]

hello and welcome

 

I dont think there is any explained reason, other than that it feels cosy to the occupying hen. we have 1 nest box sleeper, she's done it since day one and we havent tried to stop her doing it. If you want to stop yours you could put a football/ball in the nest box or an upturned plant pot.

[cluckbok]

I echo what chelsea says, one of ours sleeps in nestbox too, we never bothered stopping her. It does get a bit pooey but you just have to clean it a bit more often.

[Stevie]

One of mine started doing this then a week or so later she became broody.If i ever see her sleeping in there again-i'll just pop a plant pot in it so she cant get in.

[suzie72]

Thanks for that. Does it matter if they are there in terms of egg laying? Will it bother the other hen when she wants to lay her eggs?

 

It was very poo-ey this morning and we don't really want to have to clean it out every day, so I think we might use the up-turned pot idea. I hope she doesn't mind too much!

 

I can't believe how bothered I am about upsetting our hens!

[chelsea]

my maran (the nest box sleeper) has never stopped anyone laying with her sleeping habits, she gets up in the morning and leaves it free.

 

*touch wood* she has never been broody either. (i do not want another broody hen! )

[cluckbok]

It may bother the other hens if one is in there when she wants to lay. Our speckledy who is semi-broody, sits in there next to Rosie when she laying. The other morning I pushed her bot out of there and she took great offence by bok bokking loudly for a min or two. She got over it. Sometimes I just let them get on with it . Some people put another nestbox in the run like a child's potty filled with shredded paper or some other nesting material.

[Egluntyne]

I have two who seem to sleep in the nest box.

 

They vacate it in time for the others to lay their eggs.

[Mutrix Farmers]

I echo what chelsea says, one of ours sleeps in nestbox too, we never bothered stopping her. It does get a bit pooey but you just have to clean it a bit more often.

 

Katie tries to sleep in the nest box but if we check the eglu and she's on it we just gently push her off. Most days we have a poo free nest so egg collecting is a clean pleasure!!

[Three Wise Hens]

I put an upturned plastic flowerpot in the nest box so they don't sleep in there. One of my hens perches on the edge of the nest box and the other two use the wooden roosting bars. They did, all three of them, sleep piled on top of each other in there before I put in the flowerpot in, but it was getting a bit poo-ey. If you want clean eggs and to save yourself an extra job, it's best to keep them out of there at night.

 

Three Wise Hens

[Laura & CTB]

Both of mine love to snuggle up together in the nest box at night. I did put a flowerpot in there once but they slept on top of that. Now I just change the straw every day (just a bit on top of aubiose) and let them get on with it.

[Cooks]

Both of mine love to snuggle up together in the nest box at night.

yes mine do this now, initially it was just Cocoa in there with Sugar very close to her around the back, but, both of them fit snug as a bug in there now. They love it, but I agree the nest box gets mucky. I just tend to refresh that when I do their water/food etc... it's not a problem.

[Gallina]

I kept picking my nestbox-sleeper up when I said goodnight through the egg port and shifted her on to the bars, and eventually she chose the bars.

 

I didn't fancy cleaning a nestbox every morning, and I feel I have to assert myself sometimes if they are to continue to look up to me as their cockerel. They have never given me any say in anything else, however.

[rachel m]

nigella took to sleeping in the nest box when she was poorly a few weeks ago. she still does it sometime, but has never poo'd in the nest box?!? wonder if she gets up in the night to poo through the bars??

[Jonny]

4 of mine sleep in there!

[petite70]

I took delivery of a cube 2 weeks ago and all 8 of mine sleep in the nest box!! They all must love it and it keeps them snug and very warm!! I'm glad its just not my hennys.

[Chickvic]

Ruby was always in the nest box overnight but suddenly it's a bit of a race! No-one wants to go to bed early but whoever gets in there first gets the nestbox!! I clean the nest box regularly

[koo2cat]

All of mine sleep in there too! Upside is no mess on roosting bars, down side, I have to clean nesting box out every day! I have considered stopping them but to be honest if they are happier in there it seems a shame to move them, and mine lay their eggs fairly early in the morning so I would have to remove a plant pot pretty sharpish to ensure the eggs aren't laid elsewhere!

[Charlottechicken]

I kept picking my nestbox-sleeper up when I said goodnight through the egg port and shifted her on to the bars, and eventually she chose the bars.

 

Same here Mine shifted very easily as I think she knew she shouldn't be there, and now sleeps happily on the bars. No more pooey nest box either

[deejmum]

Hopefully I am attaching a picture of my 5 settling into the box tonight at they do every night![/img]