I Took Her Nesting Box

[baasanders]

Ok!! So I messed up big time!!

My hen Flossy was laying in our small rabbit hutch, and it was super convenient. We got a new hen, and put her in the little chicks coop to get the others acclimated. When I did that, I had to put the babies in the small rabbit hutch, taking Flossy’s “nesting box” away. So she started laying in the far, back corner of the coop they roost in (completely ignoring the nesting boxes) right under the roosting bar. 1.) I’m apparently shorter than I thought, and can’t reach it, and 2.) they poop in her nest.

So now, I need to try and figure out how to get her to lay in the hutch again!!

 

[50-45-1]

something is wrong with your set up if poop from the roosts drops into the nest boxes.
move the nest boxes or the roost so this does not happen.
once you have that situation fixed. try putting a couple golf ball in each nest box. this will show your laying hens that it is a safe place to lay eggs. Good Luck!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photos of your set up?

I don't think training her to lay in the hutch is the solution. You need to figure out why they're not using the nest boxes and encourage them to lay there and NOT sleep in there.

 

[baasanders]

something is wrong with your set up if poop from the roosts drops into the nest boxes.
move the nest boxes or the roost so this does not happen.
once you have that situation fixed. try putting a couple golf ball in each nest box. this will show your laying hens that it is a safe place to lay eggs. Good Luck!

My nest boxes are in the coop that they sleep in at night, on the opposite side of the roosting bar. She made a nest under the roosting bar, completely ignoring the boxes. So in the morning, when all are out, she goes back in there and lays.

 

[baasanders]

Photos of your set up?

I don't think training her to lay in the hutch is the solution. You need to figure out why they're not using the nest boxes and encourage them to lay there and NOT sleep in there.

My nest boxes are in the coop that they sleep in at night, on the opposite side of the roosting bar. She made a nest under the roosting bar, completely ignoring the boxes. So in the morning, when all are out, she goes back in there and lays.

 

[aart]

She made a nest under the roosting bar, completely ignoring the boxes.

Why we want to see pics of the nests and inside of coop...so we can make a suggestions to make the nests ore attractive to her.

 

[baasanders]

Why we want to see pics of the nests and inside of coop...so we can make a suggestions to make the nests ore attractive to her.

The nesting boxes are just plastic, dish washing pans