how to make nesting boxes more attractive

[clairabean]

I use upright wooden apple boxes on the floor. They are about 1.5 feet X 1 feet, by 1 feet tall. They get a bit of privacy from the sides, and nothing can roll out. I have had three banties squish in for group lay ins, and an amazing hen who managed to hop out and carry eggs to another box.

 

[bairo]

Quote:
I agree with wisher.

From the other post above about being on their level, my experience is the opposite though. They seem to feel more secure up off the ground a bit. My nest boxes are 3 feet off the ground and my roosts are 3, 5, and 6 feet

 

[daddy_roo]

My girls started a new trend of laying in the rafters of their coop. I lost all egg production over night and finally about 2 weeks later I was walking to the coop and saw one fly out of the rafters. I decided to climb up and take a look and found all 16 eggs I was suposed to have in the rafters. I had a nest box with pine shavings in it. In the middle of the box there was a indention where they would get in it and lie down, but not lay eggs. So I changed the pine shavings to straw and that filled the bill. now all my girls lay in the one box. I have 11 hens in all with one roo.

 

[chickenbythesea]

the nest boxes are maybe half a foot up from the floor of the coop... maybe I will try and put a lip on them.. at least that way they can't kick out the eggs. Thanks for all the input, will see if this works... otherwise I'll just let them be.

 

[LaurelRidgeDreams]

Quote:
Our pullets are learning where to lay and doing a lot of rearranging in the nest boxes. I had a 3 inch lip and have just increased it to 4 1/2 inches. They can no longer kick out eggs. The lip seems to make a big difference. Keeping wooden eggs in all nest boxes all of the time for my first group of pullets in another coop may have contributed to them using all of the boxes.

 

[CupOJoe42]

I am going to use dishpans inside the nest boxes so that they can be removed, checked, and cleaned easily. The dishpans will also help to keep the eggs and bedding from being pushed out. If I have a broody to relocate, I can move the whole thing at one time with her in it.

 

[chickenbythesea]

this is a great idea..

Quote:

 

[BWKatz]

I use covered kitty litter boxes which are like the dishpans with covers. My nine use 3 boxes. I use grass for padding and it helps keep the eggs very clean. I had tried pinestraw but that left brown spots on the eggs. I f one goes broody there is still plenty of space for the others and I can move the broody in & out of the coop.