Next box idea and suggestions

[3peeps]

I'm having chaos with my three chickies because my Orpington is broody. She layed a whole three whopping weeks before this started.

Anyway, I have one nest box. At first, the two other girls would lay in the box right along side the broody girl, but now it's hit or miss and I'm digging for eggs in the bedding. So fun. And it's been very cold here...below zero at times.

Anyway, I've tried two alternate nesting areas which have both been ignored. I could add another separate one just like the one that's there but I had an idea...

What about an extra wide nest box. They don't seem to mind laying in the same area as long as they fit. My broody of course likes to keep the eggs under her, so if the nest box was big, maybe she'd just roll everything over and keep the eggs from freezing? How far will they go to be a mamma to nearby eggs? I could make it so that a divider could be put in at some point.

 

[silkiechicken]

My nest hutches are 2 feet by 4 feet. A hen usually takes over a corner when broody and will routenly go take all the other eggs from the other four parts of the hutch. A wide box just may work!

 

[Wildsky]

I have a couple of boxes, but one is extra wide and higher up than the others - all three of my girls lay in that one, on one side or the other.... I don't have any broody's so I don't know how it would work with a broody girl in the box!

 

[3peeps]

Quote:
YEAH!!!!

That's just what I wanted to hear!