Rose and Ed Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 We have just bought an Elgin cube, having successfully kept chickens in an Eglu classic for years. The cube is a great design and much easier to clean out without having to bend down. Only real problem is that we have bought three new young chickens and although they have settled down together well with the other three older chickens after the first few days, every night at least one or two chickens sleep in the nest box. There is plenty of room for the six of them in the perching area, but however much I move them from the nest box in the evening, one or two have sneaked back in again overnight and they soil the bedding. I've tried putting up an old tin tray to block the hole overnight but they seem to squeeze through. Has anyone else with a cube had this problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Yes. It's annoying because they will foul the nest box but you either put up with it or block it off - upturned flower pots or similar, however as you've discovered they will still squeeze in. I've heard of people 'training' them by going up the garden late at night, taking the sleeping chickens out, and putting them back on the roosting bars. That might work, it might not, I could never be bothered! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hard Boiled Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Hi, I'm a complete newbie at chicken keeping, having only had my 5 chickens and the cube for 2 weeks so cannot offer any useful advice! Are yours actually sleeping in the nest box overnight? Mine do occasionally soil the nest box overnight but I have found that they are not actually sleeping in the nest box but they like to perch in the rim of the nest box (I've been sneaking down to check!). I think they prefer the smaller rim of the nest box for perching compared to the larger flatter slats in the cube. I love the cube but I think my chickens would like different more rounded perches for overnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 I have had my lovely 4 chickens now for 3 years now and am on my second coup .The latest one is large and should hold 6 chickens but would hold their friends over for a party as well ,but they all sleep in the two nest boxes all squashed in one on top of the other yet there is loads of room in the coup with lovely roosting bars . I tried to stop it and now I let them get on with it but have to extra poo pick first thing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 One of my girls goes to bed 15 minutes before the rest of the troop so she can sneek in to the nest box, she looks so comfy I just leave her where she is.in the morning I don a pair of gloves and pick out the poo. some people put a football in to stop them getting in so if it bothers you maybe try that.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 As above - you either need to block access to the nest at roosting time, or you just grin and bear the poo. I've got a hen who has pretty much always slept in the nest box, I don't think I'm going to change her after nearly 4 years so I just scoop the poop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 I blocked access at night early on and my girls now only try and sleep there when broody. A small trug fits perfectly as a "cork" in the nestbox hole - cant remember who told me on here, but has been v useful!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Some of mine sleep in the cube nest box, I just poo pick in the morning when I let them out and put their grubs out. But interestingly I have my only surviving ex batt in a within a sectioned off area of my WIR and she sleeps the majority of the time in the nest box and when she sleeps in it she does not poo in the nest box, if however she sleeps on the bars there is poo as I think her bottom hangs over the nest!! When I first had my girls I used to put an up turned flower pot in the eglu nest box but I don't worry now. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 As others have said if they are determined to do this they will, I have never bothered trying to stop them because I have had a couple of girls who lay at first light, so it would be too much bother. Scooping the poop is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Mine sleep in the nesting area all the time. They don't even lay there anymore, I bought a small rabbit hutch to put in the run, for a new bullied hen, but they decided it was best to lay eggs there, sometimes there are 2 in the at a time, never any poo. sadly bunny just died RIP Madeleine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquiefrost Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 my 3 all sleep in the nest boxes too. It doesn't really bother me and it only takes a few minutes to poo pick in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Mine didn't used to sleep in the nest box but they do now. It started off with just one doing it but then the others copied Each night when I lock the cube door I pop them all back into the bedroom, which I hope is where they stay keeping Queenie company - as she is the only one who doesn't do it. Funny things chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
