Battle of wills against one of my chicken...

[kellyiland63]

We got 3 Wyandotte chickens about 3 months ago. They were raised from chicks by a very nice couple. I built them a killer pen and a coop. They seemed to settle in just fine. About a month in, I noticed one that started to sleep in the nesting box. I do not want poopy eggs, so I tried to break her of this habit.... For at least 6 or 7 weeks, it has been a routine of me going out to move her out of the box and blocking it. Or blocking it before they go to roost and then removing the board the next morning. I tried a few times in those weeks to see what she does and she always sleeps in the box. I cannot find another post that someone has had to do this for this long?????? I did make a new nesting box and made it lower than the roosting area. Then I blocked the old nesting box and removed all the straw... They were not thrilled, but stay tuned... We are test driving this bad boy tomorrow... any suggestions????

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good luck your coop is quite small that is more the size for 2 birds of full size

 

[aart]

Pen looks great....coop is tiny.

Here's an excellent modification for that kind of coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535

I did make a new nesting box and made it lower than the roosting area

I'd like to see how you did this.

Oh, and....Welcome to BYC! @kellyiland63
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[kellyiland63]

The pen is 12 by 10 and the coop has about 24 SF. How much room do they need?

 

[aart]

the coop has about 24 SF. How much room do they need?

Should be OK for 3 birds in your climate.
Lack of ventilation might be an issue.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

When you say the coop is 24 sq ft, does that include the nesting boxes? How big is it if you subtract the nesting boxes?

 

[BlueBaby]

You said that someone else had raised the hen's from chick's. My question is this: Do you have any idea of how old that they are? The one that keep's staying in the nesting box may be thinking about trying to hatch some egg's. She may be broody.

 

[kellyiland63]

You said that someone else had raised the hen's from chick's. My question is this: Do you have any idea of how old that they are? The one that keep's staying in the nesting box may be thinking about trying to hatch some egg's. She may be broody.

Two are about 18 months and the younger one is right at a year old.It is the oldest that is being so obnoxious.

 

[Verbon30]

Some of my silkies sleep in there nest box but dont poop there my eggs are always clean.

 

[BlueBaby]

Two are about 18 months and the younger one is right at a year old.It is the oldest that is being so obnoxious.

She's old enough to be broody then, same age as 3 of mine, and I had one broody last month, and now a different one starting in on me now.