Chooks Not Roosting / Sparrow Problem

[kitty]

Hi all, haven't posted in a while, all going pretty well here apart from the dreadful summer. Just a couple of problems which, I hope someone can help me out with, the first of which is all of my 4 chooks now appear to be sleeping in the nest boxes instead of roosting. it really started when about a year ago I introduced 2 new chooks (to my original flock of 2) and it soon became apparent that they preferred the nest boxes to roosting, but now looking at the amount of pooh in the nest boxes it looks as if the four are doing it. This obviously means that the nests themselves have to be cleaned out a lot more regularily than if roosting,therefore, should I try and discourage them from doing this and if so how?
Second problem is I introduced a spring feeder as I am away for a day or two each week and I find that I only need to top it up every 3/4 weeks and also it overcame my problem of the normal feeders getting clogged up because of the persistent rain we've had, initially it also overcame a problem with lots of sparrows stealing the feed from the normal plastic feeders, but now they are also able to peck the spring feeder and prise the pellets out. Any ideas on this would also be appreciated.

 

[NEWTODUCKS]

Hi,
The problem of chooks sleeping in their nest boxes has been a problem a few of us have discussed on here recently and one good idea I saw was to put an upside down plant pot in there at night to stop them going in. I admit to allowing it but I put a sheet of newspaper in there before they go in at night and then remove it in the morning.

 

[Marigold]

Agree with NewtoDucks - sleeping in nestboxes is to be discouraged unless you have very heavy breeds that find it hard to perch, as its a nuisance having to keep cleaning out, also there's more likelihood of unhygienic and dirty eggs and of the birds getting dirty feet and bottoms. I keep a couple of large plastic flowerpots handy and pop them in at teatime when they've finished laying for the day, and then TRY to remember to remove them next day (if/when i forget they lay on the coop floor, which is another problem!)
I've found that when there's an outbreak of nestbox sleeping, a few nights of 'training' stops the habit, although it sometimes recurs when a hen goes broody, or when you have new, young birds who tend to do it in preference to having to establish a place on the perches with the older, more dominant hens.
As for the sparrows, the only way to solve this problem completely is to use small gauge mesh on the sides of the run to exclude tham. Theres a recent thread here http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7268 where we've been discussing this.