Nesting boxes are beds/toilets...will my girls ever lay in them

[funnyfoshay]

My girls are 13 to 17 weeks old. they have decided to perch on the walls of their nesting boxes so their nightime deposits land IN the nesting boxes. Will they ever lay where the s&*%?

Do I have to set up a secluded "clean nesting box that they might find more appealing to lay their eggs in. I have 9 girls---hoping to give away 2. Do I need 1 or 2 nesting boxes for 7 to 9 hens?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I would go with at least 2 boxes for that many gals if not 3.

NO I would not set up another clean box. I WOULD go kick their bums of that location every night until they get the hint and follow suit.

Doesn't usually take long. You just have to set the expectation.

 

[Harmony Fowl]

I found it necessary to make sure they have tops. They still sleep on them, but no poop gets in and mostly there is no sleeping in them.

 

[funnyfoshay]

hmmm ah. interesting. didn't know we could teach them that.

so, does that mean they will NOT lay where they shit?

They are sooo cute there at night. We open up the egg door in the evening and pat them because they are so calm and within reach. They don't run away they just sit there all huddled up.

 

[sourland]

Block off the nest boxes and make sure that the roosts are higher than the nest boxes. Chickens generally like to roost at the highest point possible. Once they are using the roosts unblock the nest boxes. They will lay where they defecate, but do you like flavored eggs ?

 

[funnyfoshay]

 

[funnyfoshay]

The top photo is my attempt at a more secluded spot to lay in...they can't roost on the bucket I think someone tried because i found it tipped over ugh.

the bottom photo is where we installed the 2 nesting boxes- they were supposed to roost on the ladder but only one or 2 do, the remaining 7 or 8 roost on the walls or sleep sitting in the 2 proper nexting boxes with the little logs on the ends- We bought a coop kits- it is just a poor design. The walls of the nesting boxes should be taller and meet up with the hatch that you open to collect the eggs.

They are going to start laying soon so I got to get this figured out!!

 

[funnyfoshay]

Block off the nest boxes and make sure that the roosts are higher than the nest boxes. Chickens generally like to roost at the highest point possible. Once they are using the roosts unblock the nest boxes. They will lay where they defecate, but do you like flavored eggs ?

There is a ladder that is taller, only 1 or two use it. This was a coop kit that we bought...the roost it came with was working for a while- once I put the ladder in they found the cozy nest box spot- they literally sit in the boxes 2 or 3 of them and 3 to 4 roost on the little walls between the 2 boxes wth?

 

[funnyfoshay]

 

[sourland]

Until you establish proper roosts at a proper height they will continue to perch on the edge of the nest boxes.