Sara-W Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 Hi I wonder if anyone has any ideas on why a hen would start sleeping in the nesting box? My bluebelle Sally Henny Penny has been behaving normally all day eating and drinking well, free ranging all day with the other bluebelles. The other bluebelles are extremely friendly and they all get along well together, but when I checked that they were all in Their eglu cube (the cube is home to the 3 bluebelles only) she was sleeping in the nesting box which she has never done before I'm confused... Sarax Endora (the boss) Sally Henny Penny Esme Sybil Evelyn Mildred Enid Agatha Queenie Jerry Indiana Monty Lucille Dinah 1 Lurcher (Dharma) 1 English bull terrier (Saffy) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saracook31 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 I think its just because they're comfy! All the chooks I've had from breeders perch at night, but my ex batts never have/can't get up there so all sleep in shavings or in the nest box. I guess its nice and cosy for them, they're used to being warm! If you find they make too much of a mess, I read something about putting a football (or something similar) in there at night to stop them, just have to take it out in time for laying in the morning! If they're anything like my bluebelles they're always the first into lay! Sara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara-W Posted June 17, 2009 Author Share Posted June 17, 2009 Thanks for your reply I'm so glad its just a comfort thing! Thanks for the tip about the football that's a great idea if she starts making a mess i'll definitely try it, I don't think she will be too happy about it though Sarax Endora (the boss) Sally Henny Penny Esme Sybil Evelyn Agatha Mildred Enid Queenie Jerry Indiana Monty Lucille Dinah 1 Lurcher (Dharma) 1 English bull terrier (Saffy) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Rofl used to sleep in the nesting box in their Eglu - now Lmao seems to be in there at night. I think it's a case of the first one to bed bagsies the comfy bed! I don't think it's anything for you to worry about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgieB Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Thanks for your reply I'm so glad its just a comfort thing! Thanks for the tip about the football that's a great idea if she starts making a mess i'll definitely try it, I don't think she will be too happy about it though Sarax I usually just take the poo out the nest in the morning and then the eggs stay clean. Is she an old hen? In which case maybe she doesn't have the energy to sleep standing anymore. Just a thought if she looks well otherwise. From experience with my own hens and reading posts on here it seems that given the choice hens would rather sleep lying down on straw than perching on bars. So I guess the perches are put in for the sole reason of making it easier for us to clean....Kind of the equivalent to our parents saying we should sleep on the floor as they won't have to wash our bedding then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surrey Hen Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Given the choice both of my girls sleep in the nest box of their Eglu. I thnk it is just more comfy. Often I find them both piled up together in there rather than on the bars. It means a messy nest box but its not too hard to clean. Surrey Hen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Tango always sleeps in the nest box and I just scoop out the poo in the morning. Bella perches on the side of the nest box with her bum hanging over it so...I just scoop the poo out in the morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 mine all do this, at times I have all 4 wedged in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara-W Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 I checked the nesting box this morning and it was nice and clean -no poo to scoop out! Now that I come to think of it Sally Henny Penny is always first in to bed she must be making sure she gets her favourite spot to sleep in! She's 25 weeks old so she must just like to lie down in the comfy nest box! The other 2 bluebelles are happy on the roosting bars but often all 3 go into the nesting box to lay their eggs at the same time I love to hear them clucking to each other! Sara Endora Sally Henny Penny Esme Sybil Evelyn Agatha Enid Mildred Queenie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saracook31 Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Hehe its lovely isn't it! One of my bluebelles and my sussex go into lay together every morning, the other bluebelle will often try sitting on top of them to lay! If I lift up the nesting box roof they all squawk at me! Such funny little characters! When we first built a proper nesting box all 4 of my ex batts tried to squeeze in at bed time but now its a race for the 1st two!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
