Australorps breed Thread

[getaclue]

Put a couple of the eggs in the nest box, and make sure they see them. It can take a few days for them to start using the nesting box, since it's a new experience, and they have to figure out what to associate that "going to lay an egg" feeling is all about.

 

[appps]

if they have never went in ...they may not know what it is for ...Show them eggs in there so they get the idea .
Do you just have 1 nesting box ?

Yes, it's big enough for 2-3 chickens at a time though. It's actually a 3 hen chicken coop we bought off eBay that was so ridiculously undersized that we turned it into a nesting box. I've got a plastic egg in there.

Put a couple of the eggs in the nest box, and make sure they see them.  It can take a few days for them to start using the nesting box, since it's a new experience, and they have to figure out what to associate that "going to lay an egg" feeling is all about. 

I've never had this problem before. The others all worked it out from day 1.

 

[getaclue]

I just ordered the Rcom incubator I've been drooling over for the past 2 years. Yes, I will have to put it through it's paces, so I should have some little BA's in the near future.

 

[bruceha2000]

My silly girls have started laying at last I think (it's Autumn her so think that slowed them down) but they are just dropping them where they are at the time as I'm finding them around the yard. I think it may be that they aren't brave enough to go into our fully enclosed nesting box. Our year older Australorp is always chasing them when she gets near them. Maybe they aren't game to go in there?

Quote:
Sounds like the older girl is the one deciding if the younger ones are allowed to use the box. I have a 4' closed community box and a 4' open box with 2 vertical dividers so 3 nests. For whatever reason, the few girls that do use the closed box ALWAYS lay on the left side and I don't think I've ever seen 2 in the box at once.

If your box is 1 meter or more in length, I would put in one divider to make one side 1/3 and leave the other side 2/3 of the box. And if you find they like it, maybe put in a second divider. I know there are people who say their girls like their privacy when laying, to the point of putting curtains over the front, most of mine prefer the open boxes to the closed community. It IS fairly dim in my coop and I don't know if that makes a difference to the chickens. Maybe those with the curtains are in brightly lit coops and want less light while they wait for their egg to come out.

Only the first of my 2012 pullets to lay was not in the box. I'm sure it was a big surprise "poop" as far as she knew. Since then every one has figured out the nest boxes before they laid their first week. I don't know HOW they know they want the "special poop" to go in the nest box and the regular stuff to go anywhere BUT the nest box, but they do.

 

[DanielE1990]

Quote:
Quote:Yes, it's big enough for 2-3 chickens at a time though. It's actually a 3 hen chicken coop we bought off eBay that was so ridiculously undersized that we turned it into a nesting box. I've got a plastic egg in there.
Quote:I've never had this problem before. The others all worked it out from day 1.

Sounds like the older girl is the one deciding if the younger ones are allowed to use the box. I have a 4' closed community box and a 4' open box with 2 vertical dividers so 3 nests. For whatever reason, the few girls that do use the closed box ALWAYS lay on the left side and I don't think I've ever seen 2 in the box at once.

If your box is 1 meter or more in length, I would put in one divider to make one side 1/3 and leave the other side 2/3 of the box. And if you find they like it, maybe put in a second divider. I know there are people who say their girls like their privacy when laying, to the point of putting curtains over the front, most of mine prefer the open boxes to the closed community. It IS fairly dim in my coop and I don't know if that makes a difference to the chickens. Maybe those with the curtains are in brightly lit coops and want less light while they wait for their egg to come out.

Only the first of my 2012 pullets to lay was not in the box. I'm sure it was a big surprise "poop" as far as she knew. Since then every one has figured out the nest boxes before they laid their first week. I don't know HOW they know they want the "special poop" to go in the nest box and the regular stuff to go anywhere BUT the nest box, but they do.

This made me laugh lol. "Special poop" I like that. Lol Sent from my SM-S820L using Tapatalk

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Me too, I am still laughing. How do they know what poop to put where????
Kurt

 

[mamatink7]

Hello @Gramma Chick
 Dad will be fine.  We were involved in a serious accident on I-79 enroute to Pa. over the weekend and he took some heavy hits but he's a tough old bird and gets out of the hospital today.

Thanks for asking

# 1 Son

prayers your way...that accident was really bad!! Husband is a trucker and was right there

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
Wow ! Talk about a Small World .....how did you find this post ? Do you have Australorps also ?

 

[Gramma Chick]

Me too, I am still laughing. How do they know what poop to put where????
Kurt

Was Funny ...
I was thinking they can feel it coming down the shoot...

 

[lauza0109]

Hi Everyone I'm new to this can anyone tell me if I have a roo or possibly two

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