[syman]

Overnight i have been blocking the nest box to stop my girls sleeping in them. Also, because when i left it open only two of the three girls could get in to sleep leaving the other "out in the cold" so to speak.

Is this the right thing to do?

Two of the girls like to to their laying early in the morning (before 7AM) so lay in the main part of the coop. The other is an afternoon layer and has the luxury of the nest box.

[8doubles]

You could move the hens out of the nest box on to the perch, it may take a few nights for them to get the message and roost properly in the first place but it will leave the nestbox open for early layers.

Do not expect it to work 100%  i have a 5 year old light sussex who will still sleep in the nestbox occasionally when she feels like it.

[loretta cluck]

My reply wont be much help at all.....I've been battling with my hens for the last 6 months trying to get them to "sleep" on perches, and not on the floor or nestboxes....have blocked nestboxes off with fabric, moved my girls onto perches countless times, and eventually given into them.  I now have a very thick layer of shavings for them to sleep on, and clean all poo out of coop including nest boxes, every morning at 6.30am...one of them has normally layed an egg at this point, and luckily I havent had any that are caked in poo.  Not sure how this will all work when winter arrives and its pitch black at that time, as I have to leave for work at 7.15am......dont know if its me thats a softy with them, but they just seem to have their own way all the time!!As long as I have happy hens, thats fine with me.

[syman]

My reply wont be much help at all.....I've been battling with my hens for the last 6 months trying to get them to "sleep" on perches, and not on the floor or nestboxes....have blocked nestboxes off with fabric, moved my girls onto perches countless times, and eventually given into them.  I now have a very thick layer of shavings for them to sleep on, and clean all poo out of coop including nest boxes, every morning at 6.30am...one of them has normally layed an egg at this point, and luckily I havent had any that are caked in poo.  Not sure how this will all work when winter arrives and its pitch black at that time, as I have to leave for work at 7.15am......dont know if its me thats a softy with them, but they just seem to have their own way all the time!!As long as I have happy hens, thats fine with me.

That is pretty much the same solution i was considering. Just as long as they are happy. Just don't like the idea of two in the nestboxes and one left out really.

[Fiona55]

My 3 girls have the choice of 3 nest boxes and a very nice perch.  All 3 sleep & lay in the same nest box.  I too have given up & clear out the poo each morning.  But when Eric the cockerell was with us they used to roost!  It is only since he has gone that they prefer the nest box

[ANHBUC]

The lowest in the pecking order tries to sleep in the nest box.  I just wedge the lid open when they are going to roost.  She soon get the message and once she is perching I close the lid.  Simples!   

[Sassy]

These chooks do a very good job of training us humans

[themagicaltoad1]

I gave up with mine. Sometimes they perch, sometimes they play sardines in the nest boxes.

[andy46]

My girls do the same sometimes they go on the perch and then they sleep in the nest box.Have even found them just cuddled up on the floor of the coop.