Ended Official BYC DIY Contest #2 - Show us Your Project and Win!

[FantasyFeathers]

Yup. It fooled the hens too. I'm going to build another in the other stall. This one was such a hit I don't know why I haven't done it sooner

 

[FantasyFeathers]

They have been lining up to use this box. More eggs in it every day

Half of the whole days eggs in one new box

 

[Hrhchazman]

We have four Silkie hens. Three of them are broody. The fourth is the "new girl" and the other three still haven't accepted her, (which kind of worries us, but that's another story) EXCEPT at night, when we let them go back into the coop.We have two next boxes. Lately, two of the "Broody Trudies" as we call them, have been piling into one nest box, and the new one has been pushing her way in, which, oddly enough, the other two don't seem to mind. Last night I went out to check on them and ALL FOUR had crammed their way in. I went around to the side to open the cover on the next box to make sure they were all ok, and they looked up at me like "What???? Go away Man, we're fine!" Went out this morning and new girl is already out in the run and only two of them were still in the box. Must have gotten a bit too crowded overnight.

Still, that can't be too healthy, so I think until they "come out of it" I'll block the nest boxes and they'll just have to be happy sleeping in the coop.....because I'm not about to redesign the next boxes!

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

We have four Silkie hens. Three of them are broody. The fourth is the "new girl" and the other three still haven't accepted her, (which kind of worries us, but that's another story) EXCEPT at night, when we let them go back into the coop.We have two next boxes. Lately, two of the "Broody Trudies" as we call them, have been piling into one nest box, and the new one has been pushing her way in, which, oddly enough, the other two don't seem to mind. Last night I went out to check on them and ALL FOUR had crammed their way in. I went around to the side to open the cover on the next box to make sure they were all ok, and they looked up at me like "What???? Go away Man, we're fine!" Went out this morning and new girl is already out in the run and only two of them were still in the box. Must have gotten a bit too crowded overnight.

Still, that can't be too healthy, so I think until they "come out of it" I'll block the nest boxes and they'll just have to be happy sleeping in the coop.....because I'm not about to redesign the next boxes!

This is the DIY project thread, but it sounds like all your birds are trying to roost in the nest box. Not a good thing. If two are broody, the others need to be separated from them. Too many birds in one box will end up breaking any eggs that are being set, and if you're not allowing them to set (if you're collecting the eggs) then you need to chase them out of the nest at night. A roost higher than the nest box is what you should have in the coop, and this is where they should be sleeping if they aren't incubating eggs. You may have to physically remove them and put them on the roost until they figure out that the roost is where they're supposed to be at night.

 

[FantasyFeathers]

Here is the last update on the nest box DIY project. Yesterday in 100+ degree weather I got a whole dozen eggs out of that one box. It was 11 yesterday.

I can't figure out how to add these pics to the member page that I already completed with my phone yet. I'll get on the computer and post the DIY field drinker next

 

[ChickenKeep01]

i counted 13 i think you missed the two right in the back corner

 

[FantasyFeathers]

i counted 13 i think you missed the two right in the back corner 

I trick the hens with marker eggs

 

[caboodleschicks]

Is this contest still going on?

 

[caboodleschicks]

And if so, dose homemade chicken treats count?

 

[sumi]

And if so, dose homemade chicken treats count?

This is a contest to see who can create the "best" waterer / feeder / incubator / brooder for BYC. So, no treats, I'm afraid.. Unless it's something like a treat ball used to dispense them.