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My chickens don't like their nesting boxes, they never have would this work? *New question and... - Page 2

post #11 of 18
1/30/12 at 7:13am
Thread Starter 

i was thinking of building a small box with an over hang big enough for a bale of hay so they can just hop in and lay.

 

The rabbit is finding a new home this week, she was one of the strays we caught in our yard. So she won't be a problem much longer.

www.youtube.com/stoneschickens

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hatch-cam-2012


Keeping tabs on my five favorite birds and favorite bunnies.

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www.youtube.com/stoneschickens

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hatch-cam-2012


Keeping tabs on my five favorite birds and favorite bunnies.

Reply

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post #12 of 18
1/30/12 at 9:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ole rooster View Post



 



 I got sllkies...all silkies! Their back is against the wall.

"I have doctors attending me. Telling me about my own condition. Telling me about my own needs." V. Woof

 

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"I have doctors attending me. Telling me about my own condition. Telling me about my own needs." V. Woof

 

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post #13 of 18
1/30/12 at 9:46am

680x680px-LL-777d4cd5_Flock.png

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ole rooster View Post



 



 

"I have doctors attending me. Telling me about my own condition. Telling me about my own needs." V. Woof

 

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"I have doctors attending me. Telling me about my own condition. Telling me about my own needs." V. Woof

 

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post #14 of 18
1/30/12 at 10:59am

You need a nice enclosed nest box in the quietest area of your coop with plenty of straw, remove or cover any bales of straw that the birds are going to, place some fake eggs in their too so they get the idea, if you see them trying to lay somewhere else either remove them and keep pestering them so they don't go back or lock them in their coop with said nest boxes till they lay in them, they may eventually stay put! 

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post #15 of 18
1/31/12 at 8:08pm
Thread Starter 

So today I started rearranging my coop. I made a new "box" for them and placed two of todays eggs in it. They got in and rolled the eggs around and sat in the box and explored it. I think I'm going to give the new design a try before I build something else. But now I need to know the nestin box/hen ratio.

 

Do you all think this would work a bit better?

IMAG2057.jpg

www.youtube.com/stoneschickens

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hatch-cam-2012


Keeping tabs on my five favorite birds and favorite bunnies.

Reply

www.youtube.com/stoneschickens

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hatch-cam-2012


Keeping tabs on my five favorite birds and favorite bunnies.

Reply
post #16 of 18
2/1/12 at 6:29am

Personally, I've never seen the fuss over a nest box. Mine didn't lay in theirs, they've always laid behing an old cast iron tub, between it and the wall. It's not quite as easy to get to, I suppose, but all it involves is bending over and looking. I just keep shavings or hay down there to help keep the eggs cleaner. Since I had free rangers, I'm just happy they lay where I can find them!

 

 

The nest boxes we started out with are now out in the garden, little boxes of raised beds for strawberries and swiss chard.

Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #17 of 18
2/1/12 at 8:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stone_family3 View Post

I think I figured out one of the reasons why, but I'm thinking about switching it up. They really like making their own nests in bales of hay and laying there. Would it be totally daft to just give them some bales of hay along the wall and let them make their own nests?

 

 

Here is one of the reasons they don't like the first nesting box, apparently it has been commondeered by a rescued stray rabbit.

 

rabbit.jpg


I have a nesting box just like your yellow one there. Mine would never lay in it...until I turned it upside down. Might also help if you put some fake eggs in the nests.

 

~ Aspen
 

 

Breeding White and Colored Sebastapols, American Buffs

 

Ducks~Buff Orpingtons, Magpies, Muscovys, and others

 

Calls~ White, Chocolated Bibbed, Black Bibbed, Grey, and other colors

 

Chickens~ Light & Coronation Sussex, Seramas, and Splash Cochins

 

Peafowl

 

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Breeding White and Colored Sebastapols, American Buffs

 

Ducks~Buff Orpingtons, Magpies, Muscovys, and others

 

Calls~ White, Chocolated Bibbed, Black Bibbed, Grey, and other colors

 

Chickens~ Light & Coronation Sussex, Seramas, and Splash Cochins

 

Peafowl

 

Taking Orders Now - Drop me a PM.

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post #18 of 18
2/1/12 at 9:22am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrs. Fluffy Puffy View Post


I have a nesting box just like your yellow one there. Mine would never lay in it...until I turned it upside down. Might also help if you put some fake eggs in the nests.

 

~ Aspen
 

 



They always push the fake eggs and golf balls out. :(  I just revamped it so we'll see today if they will use it today. I hope so, I hate having to play seek and find eggs.

www.youtube.com/stoneschickens

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hatch-cam-2012


Keeping tabs on my five favorite birds and favorite bunnies.

Reply

www.youtube.com/stoneschickens

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hatch-cam-2012


Keeping tabs on my five favorite birds and favorite bunnies.

Reply
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance › My chickens don't like their nesting boxes, they never have would this work? *New question and update post #15*