Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[ca1rstine]

Hi

I'm new to this chicken-keeping lark but was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. My hens all sleep in the nest box. Does this matter? Can I stop them?

Thank you

Cairstine

[Cooks]

I have 4 girls that sleep in the cube nesting box and one in the entrance, I dont stop them as it doesn't bother me to clean it out more frequently however you could block off the nest box area at night and open it again in the morning?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum . No, it doesn't really matter . It just makes a bit more work scooping poop out of the nestbox so you don't get poopy eggs .

 

You may find they change the habit anyway. Mine sometimes sleep in it, sometimes don't!

[Janty]

I've given up trying to stop mine.

 

 

The pekins and the Orp all sleep together in one nesting box and poop abundantly!

I just have to clean it out very regularly.

[ca1rstine]

Thanks for the advice. I don't mind cleaning the nest box out. I had just read some posts that said eggs can get broken if they all sleep in the nest box and that this can lead to egg eating etc etc etc

One thing I have learned since getting the hens is that there are an awful lot of doom-mongers out there.

Thanks again.

[Smiler33]

My 4 do too and look so cosy and snug all huddled together. Sometimes though just the 3 of them go in and the 4th (normally Peckish or Tikka) stand in the entrance and supervise rather sleepily!

[Porkypie]

Two of mine regularly go in there to sleep so I go out each night and turf them out when I'm shutting their pophole - once is enough and they don't go back in

[TAJ]

All mine have tended to do this when young, but when they atarted laying grew out of it - it might be an age thing.

 

Tracy

[Stevie]

If it bothers you-slip a football in there at night.

[Cats and Chickens]

Mine did this when young and for several weeks I took them out and put them on the roosting bars once they'd gone to sleep. Eventually I stopped as it was making no difference. Then as they came into lay they stopped sleeping in the nesting box for themselves. So you may find they grow out of it, but actually it doesn't matter, but you will have to poo pick the nesting box every day.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have given up on roosting bars.

i leave one by the door if there IS a prospective percher there is room there and they often would perch on on the side of the nest box! Only takes a few minutes to poo pick when you open up !

[chickenNutter]

I just put up with poopy eggs.

[Chucky Mama]

Mine did it until they started laying.

[Space Chick]

I have an ex batt who has retired from egg laying and now she is sleeping in the nesting box I reckon she thinks that she has no use for it for eggs, she may as well sleep and poo in there