Lazy chickens, impatience, or tragic design flaw

[ourtime99]

It's already been painted, but I took the pictures before we finished. It's a lovely red barn color now.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Oh, I bet it looks great in red! That's a nice design.

When they're ready to lay, they'll lay. If they don't like something about the nest box, they'll probably just lay their eggs on the floor of the coop. I think your nest box location is fine. The only thing they might have a little trouble with might be the ramp. Are they walking up it to roost or just jumping up? It looks a little steep, for being smooth. If they have any trouble using it, you can always add something to give them a little grip going up.

It takes a little while for chickens to adjust to new people, a new flock and a new house. That's a lot of changes all at once, especially when they have to work out a pecking order. I hope you get some eggs soon!

 

[ams3651]

maybe put a big dish pan in the nest area or a box, with shavings in it. something like an actual nest box. It doesnt always matter though, my young girls like laying in the corner.

 

[Chickenteacher]

I think it looks great! Chillax!

 

[silkiechicken]

Looks good! Just a word of caution about chicken wire, it is best to keep chickens in, but depending on your local predators, often doesn't keep things out. Coons, especially city ones, are real good at getting through chicken wire, especially the newer stuff.

 

[jenjscott]

it's absolutely wonderful, you have lucky hens.

 

[Annalisa]

Almost all the adult bird we've adopted stops laying. My ducks quit laying for almost 3 weeks. The chickens that stopped only did so a couple days. The Amerucana that didn't stop hid her eggs and we found a dozen green eggs hidden a couple weeks later.

I understand your impatience. At least you got adult birds and don't have to wait MONTHS for eggs.