Not liking next boxes at all!!

[Tigertrea]

So, I've now gotten 3 eggs in 2 days. The first in the middle of the coop, under the roost, so I think it was a "fall out" egg. The other 2 under my nest boxes.

I started with torn paper in the boxes. I didn't think they'd like it all that much, it was just a place holder until I could get some straw. I changed to straw yesterday and it all got kicked out. My one columbian cross kept trying to lay under the boxes but, didn't produce an egg. I had tried to toss all the paper under there to make it less attractive but, that didn't seem to work.

today I cleaned out most of the straw and tossed the cleanest shavings in the coop into the boxes....still trying to nest under them! The boxes should not be too high. The top of the front is only about 18" off the shavings in the coop (they only have about 6" under the boxes but 6" of bedding also). I added a ramp "just in case" but, they don't use it when they get in to take the straw out, so I suspect height is not the issue.

I have 2 golf balls (free ones LOL) in the middle of my 3 boxes. They keep getting buried so I don't think the golf balls are giving them any "ideas". I will have to try and find some wooden fake eggs somewhere around here. I've looked at a few places but, none to be found.

My only other thought was that I didn't have a roof on the boxes. I just made a temporary one out of cardboard and I hope that helps. I also blocked off under the boxes for now to prevent access. Is this OK? I am worried about them not finding a 'good' spot and getting egg bound!

My DH built the boxes for me. I had shown him plans many times and he even drew a plan but, what he built is not what I expected. He built so putting a top on is difficult (UGH!) and I've been trying to get him to do something about it for weeks! I'd do it myself but, I am terrified of the saw. (I have a bad habit of slicing my fingers on knives, a hand held electric saw is terrifying to me. I keep envisioning cutting a finger or hand off LOL)

I really hope they are OK until tomorrow...Payday! I will go get some clean shavings and try to find wooden eggs.

OK.....I'm done my story now. I'm just so worried about them and I know others here will understand, and maybe even have some suggestions for me.

 

[Judy]

I doubt wooden eggs will work any better than golf balls. Right now you are probably confusing and maybe upsetting them by changing things around. Lots of folks use open top rather than open front nest boxes; mine have used both. Remember, they hate change. Also, if they just started laying, odd things are likely to happen for a few weeks.

Just make a choice, at least for now, then leave things alone for a couple of months. If you can, give them more than one choice. By then you should know what they like.

 

[devora]

Yup, birds like routine. Excellent advice!

Our boxes are deep, on the ground, and filled w straw and wooden eggs. The birds can't really kick out the straw b/c the box is deep. They can't lay under it b/c there is no under it. Easy peasy? Seems to work.

 

[earlybird10842]

our hens lay in a little nest they made for themselves underneath the nestboxes. every so often there will be one in the nestbox, though

 

[Tigertrea]

Thanks for the advice. If I could see under the nest boxes I would have just left them be. I just can't get under there easily. I have now got it so they can't get under and the space in the boxes resembles, as much as possible, under them. I have a cardboard cover, sides and I also put the cardboard so it hangs over the front, making it more "private" like under the boxes. I'll leave them be for awhile now since there is not much else I can do anyway.

The funniest part.....I had seriously wanted my DH to just build a community box I could set on the floor. I'm the one who reads info and learns. I tell him what I want and he does what he wants. UGH! I wish I was more comfortable with the hand held circular saw so I could have just done it all myself! LOL.