Nest box mischief

[Letmeeatquiche]

My girls are 17 weeks old today. When I first put them outside, I dressed their nest boxes with straw. They pulled it all out and played in the boxes. Obviously immature baby girls...but they were only 8 weeks old. So I stopped dressing the bxes when cleaning the coop, leaving them completely empty. Now that they are getting old enough to actually start laying, I put straw in their boxes with a golf ball. They still pull it all out! They don't play, sleep or poop in them, but still. What's the deal?

 

[Judy]

Is there a barrier across the lower part of the opening? Mine have a 1x4 across there and have rarely if ever done this.

 

[Letmeeatquiche]

Tthere is a barrier...maybe it's too short though. I've not measured but probably not 4". I have a "condo" for a physically challenged chick. If the big girls get in there they go right for the straw too. It's a wreck! Just like most company...glad to see them come, glad to see them go. Haha! I'll add a topper to the nest box barrier and see what happens. Thanks so much for the tip!

 

[SarniaTricia]

Maybe try shavings in the boxes instead of straw?

Mine are just 20 weeks and I see alot of going in, scratching around, sitting and shuffling the bedding around, but no laying yet.... like they are trying to practise and figure out how to get comfortable... the nest box ends up with a bare bottom and the shavings pushed up along the walls, like a crator. I think a higher lip on the nest box will help...

my 2 cents
Patricia

 

[Letmeeatquiche]

Thanks Patricia! I'd pay a nickel for 2 cents of good advice any day.

 

[yo burrill]

Mine dig through about anything I used to put in the boxes. They are looking for bugs and seeds. Especially in the hay and straw. But mine even do it with shavings too. Try a piece of old carpet it would cushion the eggs so they dont break. I gave up... mine free range and usually lay somewhere on the porch or in the shed. One was sitting up on the rafters and letting her eggs fall on my grill for a few days... what a mess.