Considering Separate nesting quarters

[spiceholler]

We've had a lot of problems with broody hens, and are considering modifying our current coop. (the other reason is there is a leak in the roof which would more easily be fixed by modifying the coop a little bit.)

Right now we have mixed nesting boxes and roosts in the same coop. It's kind of a hodge lodge and we've also had issues with our hens laying in our neighbor's barn!

Anyhow, we thought it might be a good idea to attach a separate nesting suite to the coop with a separate door to remove the hen's temptation to be in the nesting box. It just seems easier than trying to block off the nesting boxes at night if we have a brooder.

We're also going to build a section for our broody ladies during the daytime to keep them out of the loop, and at night return them to the roosting coop. We've had the best success breaking broodiness by setting the hens on the roost.

SO back to the question. DO you think a separate "room" for nesting would work? Personally, I think it will be good as it will allow more privacy and darkness. Our main concern is having a separate doorway for them to enter which may cause confusion. (We'll likely close the roosting coop in the day during the transition)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The best way to break broody hens is to put them in a wire bottom cage for 3-5 days. I've also had good luck just penning them away from their chosen nest sites.

I think accommodating their desire to set by giving them more nest boxes will only make the problem worse. It's best to break broody hens asap unless you are going to have them hatch. Staying broody can physically deplete them, and can be stressful.

I personally would just put in a breaking pen or cage. That frees up the nest boxes. Hens will go elsewhere to lay if they feel unsafe or harassed in the boxes you provide.

Occasionally young pullets will seek out other places, and will need to be locked in to train them to use the boxes you provide.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Uh, any drawing of what this would entail? This sounds far more complicated than blocking nests (if you have nests sleepers) or simply breaking broodies as they come up.

 

[aart]

we've also had issues with our hens laying in our neighbor's barn!

Once you have your mods done, it would be good to think about this:
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[NatJ]

SO back to the question. DO you think a separate "room" for nesting would work? Personally, I think it will be good as it will allow more privacy and darkness. Our main concern is having a separate doorway for them to enter which may cause confusion. (We'll likely close the roosting coop in the day during the transition)

If you shut the chickens in the coop at night, do you let them out before the first eggs are laid in the morning?

Many hens lay their eggs quite early, before the time I like to get up. So shutting chickens into a roosting space with no nestboxes would not work for me. If you do not shut the chickens in at night, or if you do let them out early enough, it might work for you.

 

[spiceholler]

The best way to break broody hens is to put them in a wire bottom cage for 3-5 days. I've also had good luck just penning them away from their chosen nest sites.

I think accommodating their desire to set by giving them more nest boxes will only make the problem worse. It's best to break broody hens asap unless you are going to have them hatch. Staying broody can physically deplete them, and can be stressful.

I personally would just put in a breaking pen or cage. That frees up the nest boxes. Hens will go elsewhere to lay if they feel unsafe or harassed in the boxes you provide.

Occasionally young pullets will seek out other places, and will need to be locked in to train them to use the boxes you provide.

we've tried the wire bottom cage on many occasions, we've tried dunking. the best thing that works with our flock is blocking the nest boxes at night. so that's why we were thinking we would reconfigure the coop to make that easier.

our thought is to attach a bank of nesting boxes to the outside of the coop with a separate entrance (or an entrance to the nesting "wing" that's accessible from the roosting "wing"), thereby allowing us to increase the roosting space and simplify the interior. our current coop is only 3.5' high and the nesting boxes are not really that private.

we have 19 hens (2 are chicks) and 6 nesting boxes. I'd like to bump the boxes to 8 or 10 if we can swing it.

As far as the breaking pen, the plan was to have that be it's own section...a third "wing" that would provide the under nethers aeration, but keep the hen safe at night from predators. (currently, we would stage the pen on our porch which gets pretty messy) the broody lady would be out of view from the other hens so she wouldn't mess up their laying vibes.

hope that clarifies things.

 

[spiceholler]

If you shut the chickens in the coop at night, do you let them out before the first eggs are laid in the morning?

Many hens lay their eggs quite early, before the time I like to get up. So shutting chickens into a roosting space with no nestboxes would not work for me. If you do not shut the chickens in at night, or if you do let them out early enough, it might work for you.

that is a great point. we usually let them out before eggs are laid.