A confused new mom (me) in hen behavior!

[Debandchickens]

Good morning! It has been almost 2 weeks since we received our laying hens. They seem happy, and they were 18 weeks old at that time, so nearing the 20 week old mark. No eggs yet, but I think in time they will?

My confusion is the nesting area we made. We did 6 "compartments", but they are open areas and at bedtime they all huddle into one area. I read on a post earlier that they shouldn't be allowed to sleep in nest areas? Is this a big problem for us?

Thanks for any opinions and suggestions - I'm new

Debbie

 

[nchls school]

Good morning!  It has been almost 2 weeks since we received our laying hens.  They seem happy, and they were 18 weeks old at that time, so nearing the 20 week old mark.  No eggs yet, but I think in time they will?

My confusion is the nesting area we made.  We did 6 "compartments", but they are open areas and at bedtime they all huddle into one area.  I read on a post earlier that they shouldn't be allowed to sleep in nest areas?  Is this a big problem for us?

Thanks for any opinions and suggestions - I'm new

Debbie

It's a problem only in that when they start laying, the eggs will be soiled. I have never had this problem with nest boxes but I have had to get birds to roost in a more appropriate location. If the nesting area can be closed off until the birds are roosting where they should, that would be the easiest. Barring that you can go out late in the evening and put the birds where you want them to roost. This will take a while, but hopefully the chickens will begin sleeping in the new location.

 

[azygous]

This is normal for young pullets arriving at a new place. They're huddling together for safety and security and comfort. But after the first few days, it can become habitual.

They are close enough to point of lay you want to leave the nest boxes accessible during the day for them to explore. But I would block them off at night and encourage them to roost.

If you go out to the coop after dark, you can place the pullets on the perch and they will be more likely to remain. After a few nights of showing them where to roost, it's likely they will get the idea and continue to roost on their own from then on.

When you place them on the perch, place them close together for comfort. If they act upset, place a hand gently on their backs while making a shh-shhing sound. They should settle down then.

 

[Debandchickens]

Oh my, I think we set up all wrong We made these homey little nesting areas, 6 in total (6 hens). I didn't know the difference between nesting and roosting/perching! So we have 2 places they can roost, some tend to do that but come night time they still huddle. I said to my husband I'd like to install a camera to see what they actually do overnight. He put a golf ball in one of the nests tonight.

I guess we have to re-think the layout of our coop. Thanks for your info - I'll stay in touch!

Debbie

 

[aart]

If that's your coop in our avatar, it appears that the roosts(tree branches?) are a bit lower than the nests(straw behind wide board to the left?).

Roosts should be higher, by about a foot, than nests because they like to roost as high as possible.
So raise the roosts and you still may have to 'train' them to use the roosts to sleep instead of the nests.
Just go out after dark and take them out of the nests and put them on the roosts.

OR.... block the nests just before dusk and go out after dark and unblock the nests so you don't have to unblock them early in the morning.
I've found this easier, and less disruptive, than moving chickens after dark, and it better habituates them to settling on the roost, I rigged a hinged flap to make this easy.

 

[Debandchickens]

thank you for some good info! I didn't know about how they like their roosts higher than the nests! Love this board. We will eventually get this right. And yes, that is the coop in the picture!
I appreciate everyone's answers!

Debbie