Egg laying and nesting box question...

[lorrir]

I use pine shavings in the nesting boxes and the floor. I have a flat shovel in my coop and shovel the shavings back in the nesting boxes about once a week. My girls have a tendency to travel from the floor to anyone of the 4 boxes and back again .

They always lay eggs together in the same spot. I have 14 hens and get about a dozen a day.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Thanks, ddawn, I was actually asking the OP what the roosts were made of as a way to possibly determine why the birds are not using them.

 

[Chocobroc]

I have three different sizes. I have two that are flat. One is a full size 2x4, the other flat one is smaller in width. The third is the fattest/largest dowel rod I found which their feet will curl around but its pretty fat where their feet don't look like they are gripping hard for balance (does that make sense??). They don't use any of them really. I have picked a couple up and put them on the roost. When I do the others fly up and join them. They hang out for a bit and then fly down. They'll jump on and off the dowel rod here and there-- more than the 2x4s but do not roost.

I don't know. They were doing so well when they were chicks in their brooder. They all used the little roosts I put in it. When they got to their run/coop at 8 weeks, they didn't take to them.

I'll take any advice I can get!!

 

[Judy]

Yay Chicks! :

Thanks, ddawn, I was actually asking the OP what the roosts were made of as a way to possibly determine why the birds are not using them.

Oops. That's what I get for not making sure the question came from the OP. I usually do, really.​

 

[Chocobroc]

Well, I just googled the roosting question and read on many sites that say some chickens just don't roost and prefer the ground, while others don't until they start laying. One site said roosting is an acquired taste and even the type of roost is personal chicken preference (whether it's round or flat).

Today I added fabric to their nesting boxes (like curtains) like a poster suggested and added some straw and a little pine shavings. I even lowered one of the roosts (not lower than the boxes though) to see if maybe its just a position issue. When I went out to check on them and close their coop door, they were all huddled up by the door sticking their head out. Silly chickens. I just said good night, girls and closed their door. I guess as long as they seem happy and healthy I can't complain.

Thanks for all your help...

 

[Judy]

When I read that they liked to roost in the brooder but not the coop, I wondered about the ventilation in there. It's possible they stay by the door for the fresh air. Have you read this? https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION

 

[Chocobroc]

Yes, I have read that. Roosting as chicks in the brooder does puzzle me as well. Now, they didn't do it consistently in the brooder, but they still did it. Your thoughts about ventilation seems plausible but why don't they use the roosts in the run either??

I feel my coop is well ventilated. It is open at the top with widely spaced boards and wire... then a metal roof to protect from weather. I also have a three inch or so gap that faces inside the coop at the top and about the same on the opposite wall. I will take some pics tomorrow and post them in this thread to see if anyone has other opinions. If you can look up the "garden coop" you get an idea... also I have pics on my page (the second page) that shows it a bit.

I guess if this is my only concern and my girls happy and healthy I guess it isn't too much to be concerned about.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Or nothing at all to be concerned about. I got worried about ventilation but yours sounds good. Just goes to show, they are individuals.

 

[Chocobroc]

Update.. I went to the coop this morning to let the girls out. When I opened the coop door they were all there waiting to come out. However, When I looked into their coop, the roost that I lowered yesterday had poop on it, so I can only assume they were on it last night. So, maybe thats all I needed to do. Who knows... Chickens are individuals!!

 

[Judy]