Best Nest Box Training Help

[ashtx]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you located? Climate matters so it's always helpful to know.

My first thought is to ask, how hot is it in that nest? If I were a hen I wouldn't want to go into an airless, metal box on a warm day.

Houston, TX. I never thought about that... it probably hasn’t gotten too hot in there yet, but will be hot as we head into the summer.

 

[3KillerBs]

Houston, TX. I never thought about that... it probably hasn’t gotten too hot in there yet, but will be hot as we head into the summer.

Those curtains cut off all the airflow so it might be uncomfortably hot in there already.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd remove the curtains, at least on one side....see if that helps.

x2, or tape it back on one side for now. If they can't see in to see the fake eggs, they might not realize that they're there.

Otherwise the nest location looks good.

 

[ashtx]

Y’all are geniuses! Since rolling the curtains up two day ago my chickens have been exclusively laying in the nesting box. Thank you!

 

[Yabadabadoo]

I have no idea what the product is, but if it is above ground, I recommend leaving a ladder. I never knew my hens used it until i video taped it, its much easier for them

Would you post a picture please?

 

[cherrynberry]

Would you post a picture please?

What do you mean? The OP has their problem solved already

 

[Yabadabadoo]

What do you mean? The OP has their problem solved already

I meant of your nesting boxes and the ladder you added

 

[cherrynberry]

I meant of your nesting boxes and the ladder you added

Oh! Okay no problem! The ladder actually was already here when we moved the chickens in...

 

[cherrynberry]

Oh! Okay no problem! The ladder actually was already here when we moved the chickens in...

Once I actually was cleaning the coop and moved the ladder against a wall, they were confused for days, climbing the ladder and hoping to see a nest, but instead was faced with a wall...

but yeah, I find that they all use the 2 nesting boxes with a ladder, the other nesting box does not have a ladder (it broke) and they don’t use that much (except one of our golden comets or it we have a broody hen)

EDIT; we also had a hen laying eggs on the ground, until she saw other chickens use the ladder, we also had a hen lay eggs on top of the nest boxes for a few days, but she soon learned the concept as well...