Almost 2 weeks now I moved my chickens into their new winter coop. In the last 4 days I have gotten ZERO eggs from my 4 layers.
I have them on 18% layer feed, they have access to grit and oyster shells and can come an go into their run and coop as they please.
At first they started laying in the nest boxes. Then they stopped. I found that they were laying in the dark corner of the coop behind the tarp. I fixed the tarp and then they layed in front of the tarp. I knew the nest boxes there maybe in too bright of a spot because they are in front of the window (but this was on the only spot I could get outside access to the nest boxes). So and added curtians to the nest boxes and moved the feeder to the corner where they were laying to discourage from laying in the corner.
I found 1 egg 2 days ago in front of the door while digging around the in the pine shaving to find any hidden eggs. I stepped on it and the girls jumped off the roost to eat it up. Which make me wonder if they are eating the eggs if they are laying them on the floor.
I found today a soft shell egg so one of them is having issues with that.
I have checked under the coop and nothing there.
The temp has dropped to highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s. the coop gets a little dark fast because there is only one South-east facing window. I think I need to add a window to the door.
First thoughts are adding a light on a timer to get them more light.
Any thoughts/pictures on what nest box curtains should look like. (At least the curtains have stopped the youger chickens from sleeping in the nest boxes.)
This is sooo discouraging after building this coop.
Any suggestions on what i can do???
HELP!!
Here are the pic of the coop.
They were laying eggs behind the ramp in the back left corner behind the tarp.
Here is the nest boxes before the curtains, the window is directly to the right and the sun shines into the nest boxes.
I have them on 18% layer feed, they have access to grit and oyster shells and can come an go into their run and coop as they please.
At first they started laying in the nest boxes. Then they stopped. I found that they were laying in the dark corner of the coop behind the tarp. I fixed the tarp and then they layed in front of the tarp. I knew the nest boxes there maybe in too bright of a spot because they are in front of the window (but this was on the only spot I could get outside access to the nest boxes). So and added curtians to the nest boxes and moved the feeder to the corner where they were laying to discourage from laying in the corner.
I found 1 egg 2 days ago in front of the door while digging around the in the pine shaving to find any hidden eggs. I stepped on it and the girls jumped off the roost to eat it up. Which make me wonder if they are eating the eggs if they are laying them on the floor.
I found today a soft shell egg so one of them is having issues with that.
I have checked under the coop and nothing there.
The temp has dropped to highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s. the coop gets a little dark fast because there is only one South-east facing window. I think I need to add a window to the door.
First thoughts are adding a light on a timer to get them more light.
Any thoughts/pictures on what nest box curtains should look like. (At least the curtains have stopped the youger chickens from sleeping in the nest boxes.)
This is sooo discouraging after building this coop.
Any suggestions on what i can do???
Here are the pic of the coop.
They were laying eggs behind the ramp in the back left corner behind the tarp.
Here is the nest boxes before the curtains, the window is directly to the right and the sun shines into the nest boxes.
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