ok this is not going well

[mickeymousears]

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Can you turn her box around backwards so she can't see the others? Or put a privacy screen of some sort??

 

[farmgirlz]

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YAY!!! Husbands can be such doubters. Mine didn't think that my brooding hen would hatch out any eggs... HELLO??? Mother nature figured that out a long time ago...

That nesting box looks a little large...have you checked out the recommended sizes on BYC? That's what I did. And make a nice "bed" with wood shavings; makes it nice and comfy. And don't skimp. You can get a big bag for like 5 bucks.

Best of luck with the continued success!

 

[chicmom]

This is one of the cutest postings I've read, but...but....is a chicken pooping in your house? And the rabbits? Why do you have to leave your door open for the rabbits....Are they loose and pooping in your house? Why not have a screen door so the flies don't get in...I might be just a little bit confused.....

I am just imagining rabbit raisins all around the house, and chicken poop in your bed........

I am truly not trying to be rude......Just....How do you manage it?

 

[mickeymousears]

Oh yeah I think a chicken in my bed is pretty gross- I don't even let my cockatiel hang out in my bed and he never goes outside and takes several baths a week. The poo situation is surprisingly not really an issue- occasionally I mop up an accident on the floor but overall I have to say the flock is considerate enough to do it outside. Including this hen- I actually can't remember the last time she pood in the house and I spend the better half of the day chasing her out. I thought it was gross cause who knows what's all over their feet and they take dirt baths all day.

I think my husband found it flattering because all the animals hang out with me and ignore him. Eventho he's the treat king. And she chose HIS blanket to lay in that means she loves him. Right? Lol. So he finally found a friend and I kicked her butt out lmao!! But I never said He wasn't allowed to lay in HER bed - I'm fair!!

 

[mickeymousears]

My chore today is to buy them bedding- my buns are out too

So when you guys say wood shavings are you talking about like pine hamster bedding?? Or setting else? That stuff is actually toxic to little "pocket pets" so I never buy it. I use carefresh for the bunnies. But will gladly purchase cheaper hamster bedding for the chickens if that's what they prefer and it doesn't harm them!!

 

[farmgirlz]

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Yes...it's pine wood shavings. It's all I've ever used for my bunnies, chickens and even my brand new tiny little baby chicks. You buy it right at the feed store. It's compressed into a big brown paper bag that's probably 2 ft. X 4 ft. {up here in maine} for around 5 bucks, but it might be packaged differently where you are.

You're right, shavings with cedar in it can be toxic {and deadly}, but I've never heard of pine shavings being a problem. It's cheap and helps deodorize the coop!

 

[mickeymousears]

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LOL. Yeah I get that question a lot. Rabbits are actually very clean animals and- when kept in a cage- only use one little corner as a toilet. So yes they are loose but instead of a corner- I have 2 big cat litter boxes filled with carefresh and hay which I change out once a week. If you're interested check out the house rabbit society website- it will answer any/all your questions. Its actually cruel to keep rabbits locked in a cage/hutch all day. They are highly intelligent and social animals who often die from neglect/boredom/loneliness. Its like taking a chicken and sticking him in a box at the end of your property for his entire life. The average life span of a rabbit is 3 years - but as I said mine are 8 many ppl I know have rabbits in their teens - so why only 3 years?? That's how often they are mistreated/neglected by uneducated owners and I only fault the owners so much I mostly fault the pet stores that sell these poor animals without Informing their clients or educating themselves on the proper needs of the animals they sell- I think it should be illegal to buy ANY animal without receiving some education on its needs!!! That's my soap box you've stumbled upon so I apologize for the long answer you probably didn't care to hear- were all passionate about something right??

As for the screen door- yes we need one this house is a fixer upper in a big way (several years of college students preceded us). The screen door is somewhere on the LONG list- just haven't gotten there yet.

 

[wowmanacat]

I love this post. I would like it if my chickens "delivered" breakfast to the house and I did not have to walk to the coop. As for the shavings you can get them at a tractor supply for like 5 to 7 bucks. I use the chips or course ones for the coop and the fine ones for my brooder. I use hay in the nest boxes since I can get it for free. You can also use the shaving for the rabbits. I think the "hamster" ones cost to much.

 

[mickeymousears]

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YAY!!! Husbands can be such doubters. Mine didn't think that my brooding hen would hatch out any eggs... HELLO??? Mother nature figured that out a long time ago...

That nesting box looks a little large...have you checked out the recommended sizes on BYC? That's what I did. And make a nice "bed" with wood shavings; makes it nice and comfy. And don't skimp. You can get a big bag for like 5 bucks.

Best of luck with the continued success!

No idk the recommended sizes -what are they? I just copied the $30 boxes the feed supply had with some scrap wood from the shed. Those boxes said they were 12x12. And my scrap wood was 30" across so I made the box 15x15 in an effort to preserve my laziness (less cutting). BUT she had that box. A cat litter box filled with hay. My bunnies bed. And a carboard box to choose from (I'm happy she made the right decision

). So she had many size choices for her laying needs. My rouen duck actually fit nicely in that box and I have some wood left so I was going to make another one this weekend - which I can make smaller if need be.

 

[farmgirlz]

Ya that's about right. I guess the pic was just a little deceiving. Generally if the box is too monsterous, they won't feel cozy. But maybe now that she's laid an egg there, she'll begin to make it a habit.