I have 3 8 week old speckled sussex chicks (pullets). Theyʻve had a roost since they were 5-6 days old. They stand on it during the day but still sleep in a pile at night. Iʻm worried that when I put their nesting box in they will sleep and poop in it. Any ideas?
How do you teach your chicks to sleep on their roost?
Make a nest box like this. No poop in these boxes. They go in, lay their egg & come out. Opening is behind the hen on the doorstep.
My son in laws grandpa build these in the 1950's.
We have 4 like this for 300 hens.
Bernie
Here's the inside.
It's simply what a hen wants to do. Go where it is dark to lay her egg.
It's really easy, you just spend the first night up on the roost with them so they get they idea...Just kidding, welcome to the forum and have fun...Haystack
They will get on it when they get a little older. It is suggested to put the roost a tad higher than the nest box, to encourage them not to use the nest boxes. No worries.. I'm guessing they will roost when they get a little older.
Thanks all. I guess I just need to be patient.