My girls are sleeping in their nesting boxes, I know there coop is small. What to do, one is laying already.

[Kimmys78]

I can't do a extravagant coop right now, my fiance just had back surgery last month. These are the eggs that have been laid do they look ok. I am new to all this. Help!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Can you block the nests in the evening and open them in the morning?
A simple piece of cardboard will work.

 

[black_cat]

I just wanted to make sure since my girls have slept in the nesting boxes and I have found poop in them as well. I wiped them off with a damp paper towel. I have read not to wash them so I got scared. Lol

Chickens poop most while sleeping. I've had a similar problem-I just go out at night and take them out of the nesting boxes and place them on the roosts. They are easy to pick up while sleepy. Wiping your eggs off does the same thing as washing them-takes off the natural layer of bloom that protects the eggs from bacteria. We've had our own poopy egg issues, and we don't wash ours until use.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Your eggs look like eggs. Nothing wrong with them. Is there something that is concerning you about them?
It looks like you washed them, I personally don't wash mine, they will last longer, but some people do wash them and other people was them right before using them.

 

[RojoMarz]

Not for your "sleeping in the nest box" issue, but you may want to put some stuff in the run...branches in the corner that are supported by the chain link, tree stumps or old chairs to perch on, etc...things to give them places to sit or perch. Right now, the run looks pretty barren.

 

[NatJ]

You can go out at in the evening after dark, lift them out of the nestboxes, and put them on the roosts.

Or you can go out in the morning and clean poop out of the nestboxes.

Or you can wipe poop off the eggs and then cook the eggs.

You can even crack a poopy egg and cook the egg--but do try not to drop actual pieces of poop in the part you're going to eat

I've seen my share of poopy eggs, washed some and not others, and never had a problem. I do tend to cook my eggs until they are hard clear through (no runny yolks). I don't know if that matters or not in a case like this.

 

[black_cat]

I think they are in there because they don't have enough room for all four of them on the roosts.

Are any roosting? Try moving one or two on the roosts to at least help. Have you considered making the prefab coop+run all into a coop? That would give them more space and you less poopy eggs.

 

[NatJ]

Hmm, I guess I am not sure what you are saying

You have an area with a chainlink fence.

Inside of it, there is a structure that has nestboxes and roosts.

Part of that structure is closed up like a little house.
The other part of that structure has mesh walls (hardware cloth).

Can you put roosts in the part with the mesh walls? That would make more roost space, at least in nice weather.

If you put tarp or plywood over the mesh to block wind and snow, they could sleep there even in winter time.

I think that is what people are trying to suggest.

(If you cover the mesh with something solid, don't cover it all. Leave some open for ventilation.)

 

[Kimmys78]

I wash using as hot of water my hands can take.....and that means straight hot here.
If there is "debris" on the egg I use a bit of dawn on an old washcloth that is just for eggs now.

Ok, thank you for your advice. I am so new to this. I have four hens

 

[Kimmys78]

You have an area with a chainlink fence.

Inside of it, there is a structure that has nestboxes and roosts.

Part of that structure is closed up like a little house.
The other part of that structure has mesh walls (hardware cloth).

Can you put roosts in the part with the mesh walls? That would make more roost space, at least in nice weather.

If you put tarp or plywood over the mesh to block wind and snow, they could sleep there even in winter time.

I think that is what people are trying to suggest.

(If you cover the mesh with something solid, don't cover it all. Leave some open for ventilation.)

Ahh that is a good idea to put roosts there. We actually just bought a tarp. Thank you