I need help getting my chickens to find their nesting boxes!

[themadchicken]

I would also remove the metal trays. I use shaving instead of straw. I found straw gets crushed and causes lots of dust. I went down to the hobby store and bought some brown wood eggs. I still keep the wood eggs in the boxes as a reminder were to lay. My younger hens still forget and have a favorite bush. I keep the wood eggs in the boxes so when a hen goes broody it seeks out the wood eggs to set on instead of the ones that get gathered. Most of my hens start to lay 22-30 weeks average around 24.

 

[kodster]

I am having the exact same problem. My girls are 17 weeks old and are showing absolutely NO interest in their nest box. I added it to their house a couple of weeks ago. They'll stretch up and peak in but the only 'action' it's seen is when I physically put one of them in it. Not sure what to do.



In the interior view, the opening to the nest box is upper left. The lower view shows the original (free) large dog house that I've added on to. Suggestions?

Not a problem, yet. 18 weeks is considered early for hens to start laying... average is 20-24 weeks. Patience is my suggestion, as difficult as it seems. This is not something you can rush. The hens will follow nature's course, and will start using the nesting boxes when they are ready. I was blessed with my desire to have my first egg on my birthday last week... and they started at 20 weeks of age, so really, right on track. So, you've got everything ready for them. Everything is up to them!

 

[newbie32]

I had no idea that I might have a problem with this until I read this thread! Many people on here, and that I know personally, have told me that ALL of my chickens will lay in the same box. I only made one box when I designed my coop! Also, I am reading a lot of suggestions for hay-I don't think I can find hay in my store and leafs are rare here in the desert. I was planning on using wood shavings just like the ones I use for the coop floor. Suggestions?

 

[YangGuangLei]

Shredded paper and white golf balls worked for us. Mine figured it out.

 

[newbie32]

Shredded paper and white golf balls worked for us. Mine figured it out.

I have heard many times about the golf balls but never shredded paper. Great idea-as long as they don't get paper cuts

lol

 

[YangGuangLei]

I have heard many times about the golf balls but never shredded paper. Great idea-as long as they don't get paper cuts

lol

With the amount of paper that still gets shredded at work we have our own information safe recycling process. First to the coop, then to the compost Our chickens actually seemed to prefer sitting in the paper to roosting. It did make it easier to clean out. The paper would absorb moisture from the droppings and at the end of the week it would all come out as almost one piece or you could just add moree over the top After compression and absorption it was easy to lift out and transport to the compost bin

 

[newbie32]

Wow now that's what I call economical! Learn something new everyday I say! Thank you for your idea, now I'm thinking of buying a shredder.

 

[Roxannemc]

Like a cat or other animal they dont look for a cozy spot until they are ready.Mine have been scared of things i put down that move when they get in and out.The tin pan doesnt look like whereid want to lay.and my eggs be safe but i do like the curtains
think they prefer straw as instinct from the wild would be to lay in grass...straw is grass.

 

[ghostwolf211]

I took 2 ice tea crates and cut a side off of them leaving me the front and top open.....I put hay in them and let my chickens do the rest by letting them be chickens....They figured it out on there own....I would get rid of the pans and try something different....might be too shiny or flimsy for them

 

[cluck cluck 123]

you can try moving the nest box wear they normally lay.