Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[satay]

A nesting pad is what you put for them in the layer box where they lay the eggs to keep the eggs clean.

I have heard of them but I just use wood shavings as I compost them..

 

[liseyloochick]

That is the real trick- How to get them to stop roosting in the layer boxes so they stay clean for the eggs. They keep messing up the layer boxes so I need to know the trick to get them to stop and roost out of it! Does anyone have the trick to this?

 

[K Spot]

That is the real trick- How to get them to stop roosting in the layer boxes so they stay clean for the eggs. They keep messing up the layer boxes so I need to know the trick to get them to stop and roost out of it! Does anyone have the trick to this?

I've had a couple of my girls wanting to sleep in the nest boxes.
My solution was to enclose the boxes in the afternoon/evening so they cannot use them to sleep and uncover them in the morning. They got the hint in a few days and was able to discontinue with cordoning off the boxes.

 

[Teila]

liseyloochick like K Spot I have had a couple of gals, normally broody or semi broody who sometimes think that sleeping in the nest box is the go.

I can go days or weeks with everyone roosting and then for no particular reason, one thinks she might just sleep in the nest box. Rather than find this out at their bed time and have to muck around blocking things off and shuffling chickens, I pre-empt the possibility by routinely closing off the nest boxes every day at 4pm, leaving them no choice but to roost.

 

[sjturner79]

That is the real trick- How to get them to stop roosting in the layer boxes so they stay clean for the eggs. They keep messing up the layer boxes so I need to know the trick to get them to stop and roost out of it! Does anyone have the trick to this?

One important thing in trying to do that is to make sure the roosts are higher than the nest boxes. I have seen several coop designs with high nest boxes and the chooks will always roost there if the can. If there is a higher roosting bar that they can EASILY get to they will tend to use that.

 

[Ashburnham]

One important thing in trying to do that is to make sure the roosts are higher than the nest boxes. I have seen several coop designs with high nest boxes and the chooks will always roost there if the can. If there is a higher roosting bar that they can EASILY get to they will tend to use that.

Good point. I have found that chooks will always roost on the highest available perch or object.
If the coop has rafters they will roost on those also.

xxx M

 

[cwrite]

My little blue wheaten marans laid her first egg during the week. She gave me another on the weekend.

Congrats on her first egg K Spot. It's a beautiful colour!

 

[appps]

That is the real trick- How to get them to stop roosting in the layer boxes so they stay clean for the eggs. They keep messing up the layer boxes so I need to know the trick to get them to stop and roost out of it! Does anyone have the trick to this?

Don't have it too high. If it's as high or higher than their roost they will use it at night.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Good point.  I have found that chooks will always roost on the highest available perch or object.
If the coop has rafters they will roost on those also.

xxx   M

Agreed, but the exception to the rule would be silkies.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
Don't forget Frizzles