Keeping them out the nest box, poo on eggs

[kathyd]

Is there any way you could section off a second area in your coop? Then they might either shift from the nest box into that, or they might start to lay in the 'spare room' if it was cosy and dark? I've never seen an Iglu so I don't know what they're like I'm afraid...

If you can't do this, could you provide a second nest box outside the coop somewhere, in the run? Most of mine seem to prefer boxes away from the coop to be honest - I use really large plastic boxes full of straw (I think straw's Ok in a nest box, just not in the coop? I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong ), and again cover at least half the front with strips of black plastic to make it private and darker. Make sure the rain doesn't blow in though! In terms of rats, my guess would be that if they can find a box outside the coop, they'll also get inside at some point anyway...

[Scarlet]

It's also not related to temperature as it was about 14 degrees the others night!

I don't think it's cold related, if you have a broody the laying hens will all pile on her to lay. They seem to like to share the one nest box.
I'm at a loss what to suggest as I've never seen an Iglu either. Although I'm surprised that after dark they move into the nest box as usually, as soon as it's dark chickens don't move and stay put till first light.

[Verinda]

I must admit, I allow my hens to roost in the nest box, well it's not a box it's a barrel on it's side. I change the top layer of hay every so often she doesn't seem to poop much. It's almost always the same hen who sleeps in there and she's old and it's cold...I don't have the heart to stop her going in.

[MrsDaffy]

I have a similar problem with one of my hens - she seems to perch just on the edge of the nest box with her fluffy butt in there. As soon as I open the nest box roof, she knows she has to shuffle over and does it automatically now. However I seem to have to do this every night (I think she's messing with me!) It's quite cold at the moment and they're all huddled up together so I don't have the heart to shift them. I like the idea of vertical strips across the nest to deter them.

[Gema13]

I must be really slow here but...I don't understand why the birds are able to sleep on eggs in the first place. Hens are up and out first light, they lay eggs over the day and return to the house in the evening. Surely you remove the eggs daily before the birds return to bed. Mine sleep in the nest box in a pile, they have never perched. They only time I found a problem was when one of our girls got bloody. But we stayed more vigilant and removed eggs as soon as played and picked our bloody hen up moving her back outside. I also don't see a problem with contamination. If you have healthy hens the shells are very thick and cleaning each egg once you collect them should be enough.

[kathyd]

Hi Gema. I don't think it's about the hens sleeping on the eggs, it's about trying to keep them out of the nest box itself at night. Hens poo all the time as I'm sure you know yourself, and if your birds sleep in the nest box and poo in it, then any eggs which are laid early in the morning before you get chance to clean the nest box out can get very dirty. And although the shells are nice and thick, you can't wash them to get the poo off because then you remove the 'bloom' which protects them from bacteria entering, and if the poo's dried on to the shell simply dry-wiping doesn't work. So I think most people just prefer it if their birds avoid the nest box itself where possible.

[Scarlet]

I must be really slow here but...I don't understand why the birds are able to sleep on eggs in the first place. Hens are up and out first light, they lay eggs over the day and return to the house in the evening. Surely you remove the eggs daily before the birds return to bed. Mine sleep in the nest box in a pile, they have never perched.

The nest boxes are very dirty after they have slept in it all night which means that the next boxes require cleaning at first light every morning! If they aren't cleaned out soon enough you have to wash eggs which is as Kathy has said shouldn't really be done unless you are going to eat it straight away.
Washing eggs removes the bloom from the egg which is the natural protection from bacteria entering the porous shell, this will reduce their shelf life and they really should be eaten immediately after being washed. I hatch my own eggs, soiled eggs are a no, no. The eggs need to be carefully cleaned by fine grade sandpaper to ensure the germs don't get into the egg. I will discard any possible hatching egg that has poo on it.
As you say the "hens are up at first light" and will often need to lay straight away. Some hens may still be sleeping, getting out etc this can lead to trampled eggs. This often encourages egg eating as soon as the egg is broken they will eat it. Egg eating is very difficult to stop and contain, once one starts the whole flock starts it and are often seen hanging around the nest boxes during the days waiting.
Lastly, hens will all pile ontop of each other, this can lead to overheating problems during the summer.

[janzbro]

are your perches below or level with the nest boxes, ideally they need to higher as the girls feel safer the higher up they are.