Omlet cube and run

[reidyroo]

We have an eglu cube, and our chickens have a habit of sleeping in the nest, but we want them to sleep on the roosting bars so their poo can go into the trays rather than on the straw and on the eggs that they lay in the morning.

How can we encourage them to stay on the roosting bars at night?

Thanks

David.

[Plum]

I just kept putting them back in the right place which seems to work

[chuckmum6]

Block it up at night, you could drape a towel over the hole, just remember to move it ASAP in the morning for laying. I have running battle with mine, can't bear a pooey nest box! Persistence is the key.

[counturchickens]

I have the same issue, and pick poo out of the nesting box each morning. I have one set of bars removed as well as they prefer to sleep on the straw. They are ex batts, and none of them have ever 'roosted'. Should I be insisting, or let them carry on as they are?

[chuckmum6]

That depends if you are happy to poo pick and have soiled eggs, personally my nest box is a no poo zone and my chickens know it (although one hen does try and sneak in there she knows to exit very fast when I catch her!).

[counturchickens]

Sorry to hijack the post, but have bitten the bullet and blocked up the hole to the nest box. 2nd try last night, and as I am a big softie gave in because there seemed to be some consternation. Any way, moved the cover, but none of them moved back to the nest box. Have the cover in place for tonight just in case, but is there any chance they've learnt already?

[hopingforchickens]

I blocked mine up, it took about 4 weeks (they aren't the brightest bunch ) but they seem to have got the message now, don't know why I bothered though because the one who has come into lay, lays in the house anyway!