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They've settled in beautifully, are recognising me and the kids as we tramp up the garden with scraps, and waiting at teatime for us. They seem quite clever: they've found their way in and out of the run when i let them out and so on. BUT: all 3 of them insist on squishing into the nesting box at night! I change the paper every day as it gets poo-ey. I don't know what to do. they happily roost on the perches in the day, just not at night1 I suppose it doesn't really matter if they are happy, but will they lay there where they poo, or lay somewhere else? (they are only 14 weeks as yet so not laying).If so, I suppose i'll just have to deep litter the coop so any eggs laid off the perch don't crack? Or will their behaviour change as they start to lay? thanks again from a newbie.

|Now,some chickens will never roost on their perches,but these are too young to give up on yet.I would cut a bit of plywood or similar,that fits across the entrance to the nestbox,and stick it there before they grow in to roost.Then later go in and lift them on to the perches.Then later if they have settled either on or off their perches move the bit of plywood.In fact,if they are that young,they dont need the next box anyhow,sojust leave it blockedf for a bit. Best wishes.

thanks oldjerry, I will seek out a bit of wood tommorrow! they are quite sweet all stuffed in there but it's a bit pooey of a morning!

Did it, blocked off box with a cardboard box. There are sad little peck marks on it, but they did give in and found them this morning , both perches wrenched from the slots, all the bedding in one corner and them all bundled together!

How did the perches get moved? Any how persist,they are still young(and it's more like juvenile behaviour to huddle together)and if they get into the habit of roosting in the nest boxes you'll end up cleaning all the eggs.Best Wishes.

Awwwwww I feel sorry for the poor little mites now thinking of them pathetically pecking at the bit of wood - when I first had hens they had no idea about perching either and they just slept on sawdust or straw on the floor then suddenly a few months later they discovered their perch! Since then whenever new hens have been introduced there have been no problems because they have role models to follow so they are straight up on the perches the first night. I'm sure they'll get the hang of it eventually, just give them time.

We still have a few cretins who sleep/poo in the nesting boxes - usually the bantams. It is gross, the eggs are always covered in poo. I try to put a handful of fresh straw in of a morning, but still they do it.

We aren't around when it gets dark to block the nesting boxes off. I suppose on the scale of things, it is not that bad...

We have the same problem, our 4 keep knocking the roosting bars off and sleeping in the nesting box. In fact only 3 can fit in at any one time so one is always left out. Not sure if it is always the same one though!

This Knocking off of roosting bars i've never heard of,are you using readymade chcken units or have you built them yourself? Either way,they need to be detachable,so you can clean them,but most of all they need to be solid and not movable by the birds.By perching they are (in their tiny minds)getting up in a tree branch to get away from foxes,rats etc. and if they find it isn't secure they wont perch on it.If you have the time as it gets dark and they go into their sleeping area,you can try lifting one or two onto the perches , but as MMM suggests they'll probably soon get the idea anyhow.

Mine was a readymade unit (well, put together by husband) and he's done an ok job, apart from the perches, I think! I think they seem a little narrow for their slots, so I might just get some more solid perches and a clip to clip them in. I wonder if you can use branches? We have a lot of good sized branches from the farmer lopping the hedges, seems a shame not to use them if I can.

Loads of people will throw their toys out the pram at this,but I wouldn't argue against using branches as long as they are thick enough,then when you need to clean and dust, chuck them on the woodburner and start afresh but they must be secure.Can you not get the old man to drive a couple of nails through the perches and sides to make them more secure? (NB. I come from bodgit and sodit school of carpentry).

Ours are solid and nailed to the sides of the shed and are 2x2 battens with the edges shaved* and sanded down so there are no sharp bits, so it is still flat on the top but the edges are slightly rounded. I read that round or rough branches weren't a good idea, what whatever you use obviously it needs to suit either full size hen or bantam.

* I can't think of the correct woodworking term/tool but you know what I mean!