How do I keep chickens off the top of nest box?

[Missouri chick]

Hey ya'll, I know I've seen a post on this some time back, but I need help. I have a chicken that is DETERMINED to be on top of the nest boxes. It's getting pretty nasty up there. We even constructed it so that they shouldn't want to be up there.

Isn't there something I can do to the top to discourage this? I just can't remember.....

thanks.

 

[Browser8]

I'll be watching this one. ALL of our chickens roost on top of the nest boxes.

My plan is to put a board from the front of the nest box angled at a 45 deg angle rising to the wall behind the nest box. That will make them slide off if they get up there.

But the reason they want up there is because it is the highest place to roost so I am going put them another roost up that high as well so they will still be happy chickys too.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

If you get an answer, I'd like to know too as mine are guilty as charged on this account.

 

[Chirpy]

Well, I guess it depends on how your nest boxes are constructed but it's really easy if they are against a wall. Just slant a board or metal sheeting from the front of the nest boxes up to the wall. It's physically impossible for them to roost on something they slide off of.

Good luck.

 

[dale]

What Chirpy said. Slanted board did the trick for me... well, for my hens I mean

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

Browser8 is on the right track.
I used a 1x12, cut to the length of my nesting boxes, leaned it against the wall above the boxes with on edge at the front of them. All I needed to do to secure it was drive a couple of screws IN FRONT of the board. Gravity and the angle keep it in place and it can be easily moved if I want to place anything on top of the nests (like more quail cages )

 

[Missouri chick]

Well, darn. I have mine slanted, but the other direction. Any other suggestions?????? Is there anything to discourage them?????

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

Quote:
pile enough stuff up there so there isn't any room

buckets, extra feeders, waterers, scoops etc,....

 

[Browser8]

Quote:
Put a roost up higher.

It is their natural tendency to want to roost on the highest "limb".

Put a roost up higher than the nest box.

But you will probably have to put the slanted board or something up to discourage them from the nest boxes because they have made the habit now.

But once they can't roost there any longer they should migrate to their new higher roost.

 

[Missouri chick]

Quote:
Put a roost up higher.

It is their natural tendency to want to roost on the highest "limb".

Put a roost up higher than the nest box.

But you will probably have to put the slanted board or something up to discourage them from the nest boxes because they have made the habit now.

But once they can't roost there any longer they should migrate to their new higher roost.

**sigh, sigh, sigh**it already is.......