Alright, let’s talk about chickens and where they decide to sleep. I remember when I first got my flock set up, I built this nice coop, put in some comfortable nesting boxes lined with straw, and set up some sturdy roosting bars.
I figured, okay, boxes are for laying eggs, roosts are for sleeping. Simple, right? Well, mostly.
My First Observations
For the first little while, everything seemed fine. Come dusk, most of the birds would hop up onto the roosting bars. You’d see them shuffling around, finding their spot in the pecking order, getting settled for the night. It’s kind of their natural instinct to get up high off the ground, feels safer I guess.
But then, I started noticing a few things.
- The Young Ones: When I introduced new pullets, sometimes one or two wouldn’t quite get the memo. Instead of heading for the roosts with the older birds, I’d find them tucked into a nesting box, looking all confused. They hadn’t figured out the routine yet.
- Broody Hens: Oh boy. When a hen decides she wants to hatch some eggs (even imaginary ones), that nesting box becomes her entire world. She’ll sit there day and night, only leaving for a quick bite and drink. So, yes, broody hens absolutely sleep in nesting boxes. Had a couple of really stubborn ones over the years.
- Roost Issues?: One time, I had a few more birds than usual trying to sleep in the boxes. I took a good look at my roosts. Maybe they were getting too crowded? Or perhaps the bar wasn’t comfortable? I realized one of the bars was a bit wobbly. Chickens like stability.
Why It’s Not Ideal (For Me Anyway)
So, why do I care if they sleep in the boxes? Two main reasons:
Poop. Simple as that. Chickens poop a lot while they sleep. If they sleep in the nesting boxes, the boxes get filled with droppings. This means the straw gets soiled way faster, and more importantly…
Dirty Eggs. When they go to lay their eggs the next morning, they’re laying them in a dirty, poopy box. That means I end up with muck all over the eggs I want to collect. More cleaning for me, and it’s just not very hygienic.
What I Did About It
I prefer my chickens roosting, keeps the eggs cleaner. So, here’s what I did based on my experiences:
First, for the young confused birds, I’d just go out around dusk for a few nights in a row. If I saw one in a nesting box, I’d gently pick her up and place her on the roosting bar with the others. Usually, after a few nights of this, they catch on and follow the flock.
Second, I made sure the roosts were the most appealing place to be. This is important. Roosts should be higher than the nesting boxes. Chickens naturally want the highest spot. I also made sure the roosts were sturdy and comfortable – a flat, wide surface like a 2×4 (flat side up) works way better than a round dowel rod, in my opinion. Gives their feet a good resting place.
Third, sometimes, if I had a persistent non-broody bird using a box as a bed, I’d temporarily block the entrance to the nesting boxes after I was sure everyone was done laying for the day, usually late afternoon. Then I’d unblock them first thing in the morning. I don’t love doing this, but it breaks the habit.
Dealing with broody hens is a whole different game, usually involving moving them to a separate area to break their broodiness if I don’t want them hatching.
So, What’s the Bottom Line From My Coop?
Do chickens sleep in nesting boxes? In my direct experience, most chickens prefer roosts if they are available and suitable. They instinctively want to perch higher up. But you will definitely find exceptions, especially with young birds learning the ropes or hens that have gone broody. If you find your birds consistently sleeping in the boxes, check your roosts – make sure they’re higher, stable, and comfortable. A little bit of training and making the roosts the prime real estate usually sorts it out. Keeps the boxes cleaner for those fresh morning eggs!