🐔💤 Why Chickens Should NOT Sleep in the Nest Box
It’s bedtime in the coop—your hens are supposed to be perched neatly on the roost bars, snoozing away. But wait… what’s that? A fluffy butt tucked into the nest box! While it might look cosy (and your hen might think she’s found herself a feather mattress), letting chickens sleep in nest boxes is actually a bad habit. Here’s why you’ll want to put a stop to it pronto.
💩 1. Poop Happens
Chickens poop a lot at night. If your hens are sleeping in the nest box, you’ll end up with eggs covered in droppings the next morning. Not only is it messy, but dirty eggs are harder to clean and less hygienic for you and your flock.
🥚 2. Eggs Need a Clean Spot
Nest boxes are meant to be safe, comfy little cradles for eggs—not overnight chicken hotels. A clean, fresh nest box helps keep eggs uncracked, unsoiled, and ready for your breakfast.
🪺 3. Bad Habits Spread
If one hen starts sleeping in the nest box, others often copy her. Before you know it, you’ve got a “nest box squatters club” and a whole row of messy boxes. Once this habit sets in, it can be tricky to break.
🪜 4. Roosting Is Healthier
Chickens are designed to sleep up off the ground. Roosting on perches keeps them:
-
Safer (they feel secure higher up).
-
Cleaner (poop falls below them, not in their feathers).
-
Healthier (less chance of lice, mites, and foot issues).
Nest-box sleepers miss out on all these benefits.
🛠️ How to Break the Habit
-
Provide enough roosting space: At least 20–25cm of perch per hen.
-
Make roosts higher than nest boxes: Hens naturally prefer the highest spot to sleep.
-
Block nest boxes at night: Close them off before dark, then reopen in the morning.
-
Place fake eggs or nest eggs in the boxes: To remind them what the box is really for.
-
Check early: Move any sneaky box-sleepers onto the roost before they settle in.
🐓 Final Cluck
Nest boxes are for laying, roosts are for sleeping—that’s the golden rule of chicken keeping! By encouraging your hens to snooze on their perches, you’ll keep eggs cleaner, the coop healthier, and your flock happier.
So if you catch your girls napping in the nest box tonight, it’s time for a gentle relocation. Your eggs (and your nose) will thank you tomorrow! 🥚✨
