Accessibility to Egg Boxes

[Mark Whatley]

I have an idea that might support the tunnel idea. Johnny's Seed offers pre-bent wire hoops, in which form a tunnel for frost protection. They are covered by a product called Remay@, this material is ultra-light, woven, somewhat transparent fabric. The grass within will keep growing, will not die. Easiest thing to keep the Remay in place is a piece of pipe or bricks, any thing of weight. This is a cheap way to make a tunnel that is readily moveable and cost far less than wire.

Awesome idea James. I’ll definitely look into that.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Different people have used the tunnel idea. I sorta have a short one to my grow-out coop. I made mine 12" high. If I were to redo it I'd make it 18" tall. Even my large rooster can get through mine but he has to scrunch a bit.

Mine is up in the air so I don't have this problem, but if it is where grass and weeds can grow in it, you probably will need to weed eat or mow there. Think about that a bit. Maybe make it removable.

Consider how predator proof you want to make it.

You may need to train them how to use it. Sometimes they work these things out without a problem, sometimes they need help. If they are not laying I'd probably just leave them in the run next to the coop and let them figure it out. But be out there at bedtime to make sure they get home OK. Maybe use food to bait the tunnel to get them to use it.

Once they figure it out I think they'll use it without a problem. Hopefully they will figure it out on their own but I've had chickens have a problem with the concept of "gate". A broody hen went out of a gate and turned back along the fence. All of her chicks did not follow her out of the gate but turned along the inside of the fence. None of them thought to walk over to the gate to get back together. A few times when I let chickens out to roam they are absolutely desperate to get back to the coop at bedtime to sleep but don't think go through the gate 10 feet away that they have been using all day. This is the type of thing I'm thinking about when I suggest checking on them at bedtime. After a couple of days the chickens wanting to roost figured it out. That broody hen never did. Dumbest broody I ever had yet she managed to raise all 9 of her chicks.

Good luck with it. I expect some stories whatever you try.

 

[Mrs. K]

Or you could just put a smallish dog crate or box, maybe covered partially with a cloth in the other area, line it with nesting material, and add a fake egg. My chickens love a new place to lay. Any time I get a sudden drop in egg production, I know they have a secret nest.

If you set up a pretty prime nest, in your yard, ten to one, they will use it. There is no law that the nest has to be in the coop. If you have to keep them in the coop, they will go back to laying there.

If you have 30 -40 hens this can be a huge headache, but frequently I have had mine lay somewhere else temporarily and had no real problems.

Mrs K

 

[Mark Whatley]

Different people have used the tunnel idea. I sorta have a short one to my grow-out coop. I made mine 12" high. If I were to redo it I'd make it 18" tall. Even my large rooster can get through mine but he has to scrunch a bit.

Mine is up in the air so I don't have this problem, but if it is where grass and weeds can grow in it, you probably will need to weed eat or mow there. Think about that a bit. Maybe make it removable.

Consider how predator proof you want to make it.

You may need to train them how to use it. Sometimes they work these things out without a problem, sometimes they need help. If they are not laying I'd probably just leave them in the run next to the coop and let them figure it out. But be out there at bedtime to make sure they get home OK. Maybe use food to bait the tunnel to get them to use it.

Once they figure it out I think they'll use it without a problem. Hopefully they will figure it out on their own but I've had chickens have a problem with the concept of "gate". A broody hen went out of a gate and turned back along the fence. All of her chicks did not follow her out of the gate but turned along the inside of the fence. None of them thought to walk over to the gate to get back together. A few times when I let chickens out to roam they are absolutely desperate to get back to the coop at bedtime to sleep but don't think go through the gate 10 feet away that they have been using all day. This is the type of thing I'm thinking about when I suggest checking on them at bedtime. After a couple of days the chickens wanting to roost figured it out. That broody hen never did. Dumbest broody I ever had yet she managed to raise all 9 of her chicks.

Good luck with it. I expect some stories whatever you try.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I’m working on the tunnel approach that would allow them a “sky walk” from the elevated portion of the yard directly to the coop. Will be working on this over the weekend. Will update.