[northfifeduckling]

Twice I have noticed now that the chooks, cockerel and youngster and the girls,  have all gone off the perches and are huddling together in the nesting boxes - what could this be about as it is not really cold yet? House and birds are freshly dusted...

[ellisr]

Block the access to the nesy boxes at night and they will roost again

[doganjo]

Does it matter whether they roost or sleep in the boxes?

[Fleecewife]

We don't like our hens sleeping in the nest boxes as they don't get out to poop in the night    This means that the eggs laid in the morning are mucky.
NFD - although you have dusted the house it's worth double checking for mites every day, this year.  I can tell now if the mites are hatching again as my lot shuffle along to the middle of the perches instead of all huddling towards one end.

[northfifeduckling]

I'll check again for mites, thanks!