Ameraucana Breeders Club

The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club => Housing, Health & Hatching => Topic started by: Guest on December 07, 2007, 05:52:26 AM

Title: Help! Pooping in nesting boxes
Post by: Guest on December 07, 2007, 05:52:26 AM
My 20 week old pullets, who haven\'t started laying yet. Are using the nesting box as a toilet. Is this normal and how can I stop it?
Title: Help! Pooping in nesting boxes
Post by: bantamhill on December 07, 2007, 12:03:53 PM
They may be roosting in it or resting during cold winter days. When my hens/pullets do this I remove the nest and when I return it I put it in a new spot. You may want to add extra lower or higher roosts/perches.

Michael
Title: Help! Pooping in nesting boxes
Post by: Guest on December 08, 2007, 01:07:38 PM
I have had the same problem in the past. I covered the nesting boxes at night (used an old sheet) and uncovered them during the day. My hens will not roost in the lower boxes but will roost in boxes that are high. As Michael stated, you may have to raise the roosts or lower the nesting boxes.

Tim
Title: Help! Pooping in nesting boxes
Post by: Guest on December 10, 2007, 12:14:25 AM
One of my coops is less cozy than the other and I let the chickens snuggle up in the nests in that one at night (We even converted two of the nests into a double-nest that frequently 2 or more chickens like to cuddle in together). I just pick out the nests once or twice a week with a kitty litter scoop.
My father-in-law kept hundreds/thousands of chickens in other coops here years ago for egg production and put a think board across the entrance to the nests at night, which kept the chickens from hanging out in there and pooping.
Title: Help! Pooping in nesting boxes
Post by: Guest on December 10, 2007, 03:42:47 PM
Thank you all for the great suggestions!! I have moved my perches around and I am using a kitty litter scoop to clean it out daily. Very helpful!! As of last night, after moving perches, there was no poop!! Yeah! We may have fixed this!!
Thank you! Thank you!