Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[gladahmae]

I need some thoughts on nest box material. Our boxes have a 2in 'lip on the front of all the boxes to help contain whatever material we put in there, but I don't think we can make the lip on the top row higher or it'll be a pretty tight squeeze for the more round ladies to fit inside.

I started out putting fresh, clean wood shavings in the nest boxes, but the girls either scratch down to the wood when making their "nest" or simply threw everything out of the nest box. Next, I put straw in the nest boxes. When just the 3 girls were in the coop, they all used the same box, and simply made their nest in the corner of the box, and all was lovely.

NOW, every day when I go out to check on things, check food and water, throw out a little scratch, the next boxes are all completely empty. Any straw that had been in the boxes is now on the floor of the coop, spread all over the place. (I also think a few of them are roosting in the nest boxes judging by the amount of poop I'm seeing in them.) Yesterday afternoon, I put more straw in the boxes, and 4 of them immediately hopped up and started making nests, and 2 of them layed eggs. This morning, all the nest boxes are cleared of straw again.

I think I'll block off the boxes that are next to the roost bars for awhile to make sure they understand that the boxes are NOT for sleepytime.

Do I not worry about it and stop adding more straw? Do I suck it up and put straw in all the boxes every day? Use something else?

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

Try carpet in the nest boxes!?? Just make the lip big enough to stop the egg from being pushed out over the carpet.

 

[tjbeckman]

Whoever wanted a chicken saddle pattern. This is the one I used. It has snaps and that worked really well. The pattern is for a very large chicken but you can scale it down. http://backtobasicliving.com/blog/make-a-chicken-saddle/

Thanks Lady, will have to make a couple this weekend

 

[NovaAman]

Nova- Are you too far from Frankenmuth for eggs? I'm about 8 miles from there. They would either be cochin, cochin crossed with either Jersey giant or Black orp (I don't remember which the hen is) or silkie/cochin or just silkie.

Just a bit far. Was going to get eggs from Rusty and RBahmer tomorrow, but now I have to put it off in lieu of a neuro appt for my mom... Thank you though.

 

[theron]

Got some new babies in the mail this morning! 5 serama, 3 of which are frizzled, 1 swedish flower hen and 1 black isbar!

Very pretty coloring on those seramas! We raise seramas here and have oodles that we will be selling if needing any more.

Herducks-Cute babies! My mom has hatched out some sermas..They are such a fun breed, and cant resist a serama chick!

We LOVE seramas! They out number the rest of our birds here Seramas > other Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Pigeons, and Quail

 

[BobBry]

Had some multi-quotes set up but c`computer has been acting up so they are gone.

I fell on ice on way into house this AM. Just did it again on way out to barn. Bruised knee first time. Second landed on left arm and might have injured the shoulder, cant lift it much at all. Had to pull it up with right hand to use the shift Key. Rats, I gotta get the roos slaughtered and dressed. Bry will not help. Drat the ice. & was trying to be care full too. Healing takes so much longer than it did years ago.

 

[1muttsfan]

Bobry, sorry you are hurt - hopefully it is just painful and not serious

 

[NovaAman]

BobBry... Have you considered investing in bubble wrap? LOL, I hope you didn't hurt yourself to badly though. Maybe a few aspirin and a hot soak?

 

[ladyrsanti]

Oh man, careful out there! It is slick. Here too. Stay safe.

 

[Trefoil]

Had some multi-quotes set up but c`computer has been acting up so they are gone.

I fell on ice on way into house this AM. Just did it again on way out to barn. Bruised knee first time. Second landed on left arm and might have injured the shoulder, cant lift it much at all. Had to pull it up with right hand to use the shift Key. Rats, I gotta get the roos slaughtered and dressed. Bry will not help. Drat the ice. & was trying to be care full too. Healing takes so much longer than it did years ago.

Ouch. When I fed & locked everybody away tonight it was super slippery. Time to get out the ice treads for my boots, one of the best Christmas presents ever.