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

[stone_family3]

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.

 

[chloezoebob101]

they usually like covered boxes. and i would give them straw, its the way they do it in the wild. if they like it then i would try

 

[Fred's Hens]

Many hens also prefer it be a small "cave", thus most boxes are cubes. They like those boxes turned away from any direct light or a window. They like it to feel "hidden" and private.

 

[stone_family3]

I've tried small cave like boxes, but they keep going back to the bales of hay. I was thinking of making a small crate for the hay to sit in so they would actually sit into the crate

 

[Fred's Hens]

I've tried small cave like boxes, but they keep going back to the bales of hay. I was thinking of making a small crate for the hay to sit in so they would actually sit into the crate

I guess there's nothing that can be done. Best regards,

 

[ziL]

At least they don't lay under the perches like mine.

 

[thaokou21]

mine hens hate it when the nest is too low. They would always take the higher nest.lol.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Try putting covered boxes filled with hay and cover your hay for a while until they get used to using the boxes. Leave the box you have there for the rabbit, it you move it then the rabbit just may relocate to the new nest boxes.

 

[gambit2178]

I had the same issue with my girls, then tried moving them and no luck

So I used a little creativity ands viola...they are all happy, staying in their nest, with their own eggs and not on top of one another

The one behind the fence is the one close to hatching day...the others are two weeks apart from each other.

 

[Ole rooster]

I had the same issue with my girls, then tried moving them and no luck

So I used a little creativity ands viola...they are all happy, staying in their nest, with their own eggs and not on top of one another

The one behind the fence is the one close to hatching day...the others are two weeks apart from each other.
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I see your girls, but which end is the front? What in the world have you got there? I know it has to have warm blood. The chickens I have, have a distinctive front and back. Plus their toes point in the direction they're going.