- Thread starter
- #11
I waited to build the nest boxes and put them up until I thought they should be laying. I'm wondering if that was just a dumb idea on my part. I could have had them in there the entire time and the hens would have been familiar with them. Probably shot myself in the foot with this one.Can you switch the split or is that too much?
I would confine the hens to a temporary penned off area in the barn and have a nice private, and dark nest box for them to use, with no access to any other 'hidey holes'. Just water and feed and the dark nest box area.
You have to unlearn what she has in her head and chickens are not the brightest bulb in the box. Once they learn something they get it, so make it impossible for her to continue with what she has learned and re-train her to the new area. If she can get out then she will continue to go to the same spot she is comfortable with. Put fake eggs in their anyway - and leave them there. Chickens don't look for a place to build a nest and look for someone else to have picked out a good spot and figure if it was good for another hen it is good for them.
Have some patience - it takes a bit to condition them (and that includes passive force) (i.e. can't get back to the old nest at least until the new nest box is being used).
