I figured once we were knocking on 20 weeks door I'd be in egg count down mode. I'm still in roosting count down mode.
Around 15 weeks my lone roo, a SSH, started roosting. A week later he was joined by an EE, then the next week by another EE and an Australorp. Then no new comers to the roost for the last two weeks. The other 17 hens still nest in the corner of the coop on the floor. Since they seem to think this corner is the most secure, I built their nest boxes just above this area. I thought changing the area up would encourage them to move to the roosts - nope. At this point should I block off that corner? Or start putting them onto the roosts at night when they are asleep? I've seen most of them hang out on the roosts during the day, but at night they fight over the corner spot and pile on top of each other like terrified chicks. What do I do, if anything?
Around 15 weeks my lone roo, a SSH, started roosting. A week later he was joined by an EE, then the next week by another EE and an Australorp. Then no new comers to the roost for the last two weeks. The other 17 hens still nest in the corner of the coop on the floor. Since they seem to think this corner is the most secure, I built their nest boxes just above this area. I thought changing the area up would encourage them to move to the roosts - nope. At this point should I block off that corner? Or start putting them onto the roosts at night when they are asleep? I've seen most of them hang out on the roosts during the day, but at night they fight over the corner spot and pile on top of each other like terrified chicks. What do I do, if anything?
