- Jan 11, 2012
- 134
- 7
- 93
I recently adopted a 2-year-old flock of hens. there are 11 right now, but it will soon be just 7.
I built their nest box identical to their old one, since they seemed happy with it. It's a community box: 4 feet long, 15 inches deep and 15 inches tall. There is one opening, a 10x10" hole in the center.
All the eggs have been laid in there, so they seem to have approved it.
I've noticed that the hens like to hide in the back, darkest corners to lay. I see this as the advantage to this box design, since they're able to get away from the opening and get some privacy.
However, today I noticed something. Marilyn had gone into the box and hidden back in the corner. A few minutes later there was a bit of a commotion, and when I looked, Jackie-O was sitting in the box, right in front of the opening, effectively blocking it, and Marilyn was standing outside the box looking forlorn. Pretty sure she'd been booted out.
Is that a problem with the community boxes? One hen will kick everyone out, and then they don't have anywhere to lay? If the boxes were individual, I excpect that Jackie-O still would have chased Marilyn out, but at least Marilyn could have gone to another box.
I can easily convert the box to 3 individual boxes by just putting in dividers and cutting 2 more holes, but then the hens who like to hide in the corner will lose their privacy.
which is better?
I built their nest box identical to their old one, since they seemed happy with it. It's a community box: 4 feet long, 15 inches deep and 15 inches tall. There is one opening, a 10x10" hole in the center.
All the eggs have been laid in there, so they seem to have approved it.
I've noticed that the hens like to hide in the back, darkest corners to lay. I see this as the advantage to this box design, since they're able to get away from the opening and get some privacy.
However, today I noticed something. Marilyn had gone into the box and hidden back in the corner. A few minutes later there was a bit of a commotion, and when I looked, Jackie-O was sitting in the box, right in front of the opening, effectively blocking it, and Marilyn was standing outside the box looking forlorn. Pretty sure she'd been booted out.
Is that a problem with the community boxes? One hen will kick everyone out, and then they don't have anywhere to lay? If the boxes were individual, I excpect that Jackie-O still would have chased Marilyn out, but at least Marilyn could have gone to another box.
I can easily convert the box to 3 individual boxes by just putting in dividers and cutting 2 more holes, but then the hens who like to hide in the corner will lose their privacy.
which is better?