Need help with our Nesting boxes

[aart]

New layers are notorious for destroying the nest bedding.
They should calm down pretty soon.

I have higher lips and shove a flake of straw in tight, 'bowling' out the middle a bit.
Still have to rearrange the bedding to cover the framing inside once in awhile.

Are those roosts below the nests?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Wood shavings are pretty light. I you use them they need to be pretty deep. That would mean adding a higher lip to you nests.

People use wood shavings, straw, hay, dried leaves, Spanish moss, shredded paper, feed bags, rags, carpet, and who knows how many other things in nests. Some work better in some nest types than others. Switching to straw may solve your problem or you may also need to raise that lip so you can pile it deeper and keep it in.

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

I tried several different materials in mine too see what they preferred. They will not use the one with wood chips, or they kick them out. Mine prefer straw, pine needles or long grass.

 

[JazzyLoo]

New layers are notorious for destroying the nest bedding.
They should calm down pretty soon.

I have higher lips and shove a flake of straw in tight, 'bowling' out the middle a bit.
Still have to rearrange the bedding to cover the framing inside once in awhile.

Are those roosts below the nests?

Thanks, I was thinking it was because they are young and trying to understand what to do! I will continue to keep a close watch over them and yes, their roosts are pretty much level with the boxes. Is that bad?

 

[JazzyLoo]

Wood shavings are pretty light. I you use them they need to be pretty deep. That would mean adding a higher lip to you nests.

People use wood shavings, straw, hay, dried leaves, Spanish moss, shredded paper, feed bags, rags, carpet, and who knows how many other things in nests. Some work better in some nest types than others. Switching to straw may solve your problem or you may also need to raise that lip so you can pile it deeper and keep it in.

Yep, they kicked the straw out as well! I think I will just keep putting it back in until they figure it out. Maybe it’s because they are new at this egg laying business

 

[aart]

yes, their roosts are pretty much level with the boxes. Is that bad?

Best for roost to be higher than nests, or they may start sleeping in the nests filling them with night poops.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yep, they kicked the straw out as well! I think I will just keep putting it back in until they figure it out. Maybe it’s because they are new at this egg laying business

If they are still kicking the straw out, it's because the lip is not high enough. Sorry, but I don't know how to say it any clearer.

Most chickens like to sleep as high as they can. If the highest spot is your nests they are very likely to want to sleep in them. Usually if your roosts are noticeably higher than your nests they want to sleep on the roosts not in the nests. What is noticeably higher? If the roosts are right at the nests 6" is probably enough. More also works. If the roosts are further away, 12" generally works unless you have a huge coop.

 

[Chickenclaude]

I just used milk crates that I screwed a ‘lip’. Across the bottom of the front. As others have stated it’s 4” deep and holds stuff in. If should be strong enough so that they can stand on it...I also zip tied a flexible cutting board to the top to keep them from walking and pooping in the nesting boxes.

 

[JazzyLoo]

Do you have a lip on the front of your nest boxes?
I have a 4" lip and bed the boxes with chopped straw.

We put up a lip in front of the nesting boxes today. Hopefully it helps. Thank you

 

[Mrs. K]

I line mine with cardboard. Which softens it a bit, then add old hay. If something does break (not too often) or what ever mess, I can lift the whole thing out. Easier to clean out.

MRs K