Nest Box Problems + Run Material

[Krcismesia]

I would really appreciate if someone could help me out with these two quick questions ,

1). So I have 7 chickens and two huge nesting boxes for them. For about 4 months they were laying just fine inside them and it was all good. However just recently they have started kicking the nesting boxes around all round the coop (sometimes I find that they pushed them to outside in the run) and they also won't lay in them either.

2). Any suggestions for a material to lay inside my run. The grass is now gone so it is getting pretty slippery and muddy in there. I have built it pretty big because free-ranging isn't an option with the hawks, so, I'm looking for something that will be good for them to roll around in.

Thanks so much for your help

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

1) no clue(maybe fasten then?) 2) sand, leaves, sawdust, grass clippings all work.

 

[Krcismesia]

1) no clue(maybe fasten then?) 2) sand, leaves, sawdust, grass clippings all work.

Ok Thanks so much

 

[PirateGirl]

Fasten the nest boxes somehow so that they can't move them around. My chickens had one in particular that moved a bit and then once they realized that, they wouldn't use it. Another time my chickens abandoned using the nest box it turned out I had a mite problem, and mites like to hide in nest boxes/bedding. Once I took care of the mites, they started using the box again.

When it's muddy I will throw down a layer of straw because it's what I have on hand, but any dry organic material will work, eventually the chickens will scratch it enough that it breaks down and composts and disappears.

 

[Krcismesia]

Fasten the nest boxes somehow so that they can't move them around. My chickens had one in particular that moved a bit and then once they realized that, they wouldn't use it. Another time my chickens abandoned using the nest box it turned out I had a mite problem, and mites like to hide in nest boxes/bedding. Once I took care of the mites, they started using the box again.

When it's muddy I will throw down a layer of straw because it's what I have on hand, but any dry organic material will work, eventually the chickens will scratch it enough that it breaks down and composts and disappears.

Thank you so much! I will check right away for mites, I know its been rainy lately so their dust bath is always getting wet

 

[PirateGirl]

you don't have mites and your chickens are just doing their normal thing by trying to destroy anything you give them! I just wanted to throw that out there because sometimes there is a very good reason they are not using the nest box, especially if they used to use the nest box. Also check for things like rodent droppings.

 

[Krcismesia]

you don't have mites and your chickens are just doing their normal thing by trying to destroy anything you give them! I just wanted to throw that out there because sometimes there is a very good reason they are not using the nest box, especially if they used to use the nest box. Also check for things like rodent droppings.

Ok thanks I will make sure to look for that too

 

[rosemarythyme]

2). Any suggestions for a material to lay inside my run. The grass is now gone so it is getting pretty slippery and muddy in there. I have built it pretty big because free-ranging isn't an option with the hawks, so, I'm looking for something that will be good for them to roll around in.

Assuming there isn't an existing drainage issue with the run, consider using some form of deep litter, which is a mix of wood chips, plant material, yard waste. The chips function by letting water drain through and forming a drier mat that the chickens can walk on. As the materials break down you can either remove some for gardening, or just continue to add more material.