poop free egg collection box simple easy step by step.

[nzchicke]

They poop in it because they are roosting in it- from what I have read. If they are not roosting in their boxes (or on the edges) then they wont be pooping in them.
I have the same problem sometimes, usually problem is boxes are higher than perches etc

 

[wolftracks]

WOW more ways to incorperate into my quail pen. LOL

You always have some great ideas.

I don't understand why you go under attack though. You have great things to share here, for those who need help and some cheap and easy alternatives. Not every situation is the same and some people will have to find another solution to a problem. You have been offering several, so I'm going to offer to be one of your "buddys" and say Thank You!

My nest boxes are low. The roost is nowhere near the boxes and I get poop in them. Not a lot, but I don't like it. I also have a hen that delivers to the back door. Sometimes I find a slightly cracked egg on the cement, so I don't think the extra padding in the nest box is a must to them. My boxes are filled and most of the times I'm tossing away what a put in. I have a few girls that work all the way to the wood on the bottom to lay. They waste so much bedding it's not funny.

I don't think your boxes are a bad idea at all. The idea is, go in, lay an egg and get out. Less time in should mean less chance to poop in them too. The only thing I had a question about though is the 10" for the roll out. Is that kind of far and do you ever have a problem with eggs cracking when they bump eachother? I'm just asking, because I was thinking of making them 1-3" shorter and was wonder what you thought.

BTW I also have a hen, that if she hasn't laid before she's running the yard, will fly up on top of a rabbit cage to lay her egg. It's made of wire. Yes I have some strange birds.

 

[gale65]

I used to raise chickens way back when and I got plenty of poopy eggs. So someone was pooping in there and it wasn't because the roost wasn't high enough. Probably something to do with the fact that I worked from 8 to 5 so I couldn't collect eggs until around 5:30 pm every day.

 

[foulman007]

Quote:
Thank you
yeah after the goats destroyed their coop its been freerange city (freerange chickens go where they want with no obstructions)
they lay in concrete blocks in the old rabbit cages found one on the upper part of my f-150's hood . my boxes are less than a foot off the ground they have pearches up to 5 ft or so had 6 boxes for 4 layers they all get in the same one. if you can train em to do what you want why not .right?
getting them not to smack into each other is something you have to adjust for too much angle and its scramble time not enough no roll sometimes I just bump the side and they roll back. i had an old piece of pipe insulation foam at the back of my last one.

I dont know why some people just have to attack every idea I have .But whatever I will continue to share and maybe spark someone's interest in having a few birds. I have been raising and around all types of animals in farm settings and backyard hobby types for the last 40 years. I would never shove my opionion upon someone and it is rare I will even give one. But I bet someone has had simmilar experiences and who knows I might give them a spark.

 

[foulman007]

Quote:
yep i want eggs but I also work 10-9 mon -sat you get it!

 

[auntie hattie]

I don't know why but mine sleep in the nesting boxes. The nesting boxes are on the floor and the chickens have a roost right across the coop from the nesting boxes and the roost is up higher than the nesting boxes. So every morning I go out and have to clean them. My one chicken that is laying will wait for me to clean it and then get in and lay her egg. She has me trained.

 

[gmendoza]

Foulman,

Its a good idea.In england,they have those things.Might I suggest is the plastic cloth rather than metal.Easier to clean,wont hurt the chickens bums,eggs wont crack as bad.

I was like you once,I hated "poopy box",now the roosts are higher,so no more poopy box.

 

[SmokinChick]

Great post thanks. I made roll out boxes from Opa's plans. No eggs yet, August hopefully.
Off topic a bit, sorry. I hear people "start" thier hens by placing fake eggs in the nest. How do I do that with the roll out type? Do i need to do this? Should I glue an egg to the floor ? Or is this not worth doing?
Thanks

 

[sotelomary]

What a great idea. My chickens do occasionally poop in the nest boxes and get the eggs dirty. Why, I don't know..their roost is high and nowhere near the boxes.

Do the eggs crack if there is one already at the bottom and one comes down?

I like the fact that the eggs is quickly away from the hen. I think this might help with keeping them from going broody? Many times there will be one egg in one box while the other one is empty. Guess which box the next hen will go into. Yep, the one with the egg. I have even seen one hen get up from her box to go lay in the box with someone else's egg in it!

Keep sharing your ideas. They are appreciated.

Mary

 

[onthespot]

Thanks for sharing foulman. You showed a simple solution to a problem many of us have. Hats off to those of you whose hens don't poop on their eggs, but some hens, for some reason give an extra push it seems, and paint their eggs creatively as part of the laying process it seems. Loose, fluffy grass bedding just makes it worse and keeps in moisture, and hides the fact that the poop is even there, causing more dirty eggs. I've been wanting to do rollaway nests in all my pens, but just didn't have the energy to buy plywood and start from scratch. Your solution is so simple and quick. Thanks!