Why is it bad for chickens to sleep in nesting boxes?

[Weeg]

I have a mixed flock, of ages. Half are 3 years and under, and the other half are 5+ in age. I have a particularly small coop for 8 birds, but I make it work. My coop is kinda like a small square room, a bit taller then a house door. It is 3ft by 3ft, but its 9 feet going up. Each nesting box on each side is big enough for 3 chickens comfortably, and I have a roost that stretches across the middle of the coop. I also have 5 nest boxes above the roosts, that they lay all the eggs in. Now, about 5 of the chickens sleep on the roost, and the 2 older ones, plus my rooster, like to sleep in the lower nesting boxes. Every now and then I come out in the morning to let them out and 2 chickens are in the nesting boxes above the roosts. I've heard that it is bad for chickens to sleep in nesting boxes. Why is this? It would be fairly tight in my coop if everyone was on a roost. Plus I have some 7-8 year old hens, and they don't want to jump to the roosts. What do you think, is okay to let them sleep in the nesting boxes, or should I install more roosts and start putting the older ones up there? Thanks, Avery

 

[CluckerFamily]

Sleeping in nesting boxes leads to dirt vents and feathers which usually leads to flystrike. Lice and mites love hiding in these areas.

 

[chickenlover007]

When a chicken sleeps in a nesting box, you run a high risk of them starting to break and eat their own eggs. Also, they get dirty vents and feathers and it makes your eggs poopy which increases your risk of salmonella. But in the end, its your call. : )

 

[NatJ]

I've heard that it is bad for chickens to sleep in nesting boxes. Why is this?

One reason: chickens do a lot of pooping where they sleep.
So then you get poopy eggs, and the next night you get poopy chickens from sleeping in there (unless you clean the nestboxes every morning, which most people do not like to do.)

 

[Weeg]

Sleeping in nesting boxes leads to dirt vents and feathers which usually leads to flystrike. Lice and mites love hiding in these areas.

I pay good attention to the nesting boxes, and keep them clean. Plus I use shavings, which mostly absorbs the poop, and pee. Plus, they scratch it up and bury the poop mostly, so I make sure they aren't sitting in it. Ohh, and the nesting boxes have an edge made of a 1x4, that sticks up to keep the shavings in. They do roost on that at the edge of the nesting boxes mostly, so they have clearance from the poop. Do you think they will be okay, with this set up? I can post pictures of the nesting area tomorrow to if that helps.

 

[PioneerChicks]

The main problem I see is poop. Broody hens don't poo in the nesting box, but sleeping hens do. It is up to you wether to allow them to sleep there or not!

 

[Weeg]

One reason: chickens do a lot of pooping where they sleep.
So then you get poopy eggs, and the next night you get poopy chickens from sleeping in there (unless you clean the nestboxes every morning, which most people do not like to do.)

They all lay there eggs in the above nesting boxes, and they don't sleep there. They all sleep in the lower nest boxes. I think I see the in the above boxes because they are laying eggs, but I don't know for sure. Thanks

 

[Weeg]

(unless you clean the nestboxes every morning, which most people do not like to do.)

They scratch up the nesting bedding, so the poop doesn't build up. I will get pictures of the set up tomorrow so you can see what I mean. Thanks guys, this is all super good info!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I pay good attention to the nesting boxes, and keep them clean. Plus I use shavings, which mostly absorbs the poop, and pee. Plus, they scratch it up and bury the poop mostly, so I make sure they aren't sitting in it. Ohh, and the nesting boxes have an edge made of a 1x4, that sticks up to keep the shavings in. They do roost on that at the edge of the nesting boxes mostly, so they have clearance from the poop. Do you think they will be okay, with this set up? I can post pictures of the nesting area tomorrow to if that helps.

Do they lay eggs in the lower nesting boxes? Would it be possible to eliminate these and put in a roost at the lower level?
I personally am always worried about flystrike, it can happen so fast if the chickens have dirty feathers and the thought of the maggots can cause nightmares and fears.

 

[NatJ]

They scratch up the nesting bedding, so the poop doesn't build up. I will get pictures of the set up tomorrow so you can see what I mean. Thanks guys, this is all super good info!

Most people figure that nestboxes are only for egg laying.

It sounds like some of yours are functioning more like extra levels of floor space.

That's not what most people are talking about when they say to not let chickens sleep in the nests.

It might work fine for your chickens--different setup than some other people, so of course different results.