Hidden Nest in the yard

[mediazeal]

Quote:
Oh man, these little farts.
I think mine might be laying under the deck but way back where I can not get. I hope the dog finds the eggs is all I can say.

they have not laid in the hidden nest again but I am still hearing egg song away from the coop and have no idea where they might be laying cause it is usually not the one laying that is singing in my groupl

 

[Mrs. K]

They are creatures of habit, kind of. When mine suspiciously drop in production, I listen for the egg song, and then can usually find the nest, collect the eggs. But if they are not laying in their nests, I lock them in the run for a few days, till they get in the habit of the nest I want them to use again. It is the best nest in the run/coop, and they really do like them.

Just once in while they think they want to branch out somewhere else, then you have to kind of retrain them. mk

 

[gaillardia]

I have no run to confine my birds. I have 5' x 6' house for 5 standard sized hens. Will they be uncomfortable spending the entire day in the house if I have to train them to use their box? they will start laying just about the time school starts, so I won't be home to track their songs. I am so anxious for the first egg, and now I am afraid that one will lay, and I won't even know it because it will be hidden from me.

I do love free ranging my girls; they do something to make me laugh every single day.

 

[cfd chickens]

We have a Silver Spangled Hamburg hen who NEVER goes in the coop at night. Yesterday she came into the yard with four newly hatched chicks. Luckily our only roosters right now our Hamburgs! I've read they rarely go broody, so she must be an exception. They are adorable. BUT today a Sussex hen showed up with ten newly hatched mutt chicks. Good grief! The kids put them in the run area to keep them away from the other chickens and nighttime predators. Any advice?

Does anyone know how to post pics?

Brenda

 

[mediazeal]

Quote:
Put a golf ball or a wooden egg in each nest in the coop so both show them where to go and to show them that whatever is there is hard and not to keep pecking it.

I have a friend with the same set up as you and they hens lay in the coop. good luck

 

[mediazeal]

Quote:
Wow! Can you make a chicken tractor with hardware cloth to keep them safe at night?

 

[cfd chickens]

Not sure what we're going to do long-term. Our run area is 10x18 with 6' high chicken wire. I'm just going to keep the ramp closed to the coop and make a shelter area for right now. The rest of the chickens free-range during the day and go in the coop at night. I'm afraid that if we let them out she won't be able to protect them in the "wild". I wonder how old they'll have to be before they can come out?

Brenda
Alpena, MI