9 layers, three laying boxes and questions!

[kimboolah]

Previous to today, I only had one layer, the magnificent Big Mama. She dutifully gave me an egg in the same box next to the same two golf balls for a while now--today I got an egg from her, a long skinny egg by the door of the coop and one with such a thin shell/membrane that it cracked open as soon as it was laid out in the run! So yay! that now I have three who are getting it together, but how do you get them to the nests? We have to cover them at night because they slept and/or pooped in them, but they could get in on the sides if they 'needed' to.

Very excited to have three eggs!

 

[kimboolah]

oh and wanted to clarify, in the early morning like 6-7-ish i go out there and let them out of the coop, tidy up and open the nesting boxes.

 

[Happy Chooks]

It took my BO a week, but the golf balls/fake eggs worked. (or she saw the other girls laying there) All of my girls but my BO layed right away in the boxes.

 

[kimboolah]

so, how many golf balls? I have six, two in each box. Should I put them up in the boxes manually, so they see the fake eggs and maybe "get it"?

 

[Happy Chooks]

I have a golf ball and 2 fake eggs in 1 nesting box. (clumped together like a clutch) The other 3 are empty. I have 2 girls that like to lay with the fake eggs and the other 2 want an empty nest. (including the BO)

 

[kimboolah]

ok, thanks. I guess I will just have to get my butt out of bed earlier to help prevent the eggs on the ground. Also--it's been in the low 50' s here at night--does it matter that they totally dig nests in the litter and hunker down in there instead of on the roost? I don't care, it just cracks me up to walk in there in the morning and see all these holes dug! (DL method)

 

[Happy Chooks]

When my BO laid on the floor of the coop, I took something (like a stick) and messed up her nest.

 

[valentinebaby]

This must be a BO trait because I have a BO who just started laying and it seems to surprise her and she lays wherever she's standing in the run. All the others who are laying, lay in the nest boxes in the coop.

 

[MIKE555444]

Thanks for the BO "heads up" I am expecting eggs soon

 

[Riven]

I would not cover up the boxes, many chickens like to sleep in them or roost on them, it makes them feel safe. Instinctively they want to lay their eggs where they feel safe and make a "nest" ( even non-broody breeds ) that's why they lay in the boxes, not because it's easier for us.

Cleaning nest boxes is part of having chickens, I clean mine good every week when I clean the coop, and if one gets extra messy I give it a little clean up before then.