Pushy hens

[nanawendy]

We have 3 wire nest for 9 chicka's. They all lay in one and kind of trample the others to get to it. There are a few options... 1) I could nail down the wire nests(they are lg in and out mailbox's and very easy to clean) 2) I could make wooden one's (not as easy to clean, but won't flip over) 3) make a communal nest and they can all get cozy and lay together. suggestions???

 

[toletiquesbysam]

What I would do is close off the one they use which will force them to use the others. Once they start using the others, then I'd open back up the 1st one. Hopefully by then you'll have girls using the other 2 and not all will want to go back to the 1st!

 

[nanawendy]

Thanks... so I did that but they are still fighting over one nest. I just went to collect eggs and a BR was in the nest, an hour ago it was Lucy an EE. As I went in Lucy followed me into the coop and went up the ramp, Baroc the BR was sitting in the nest. To prevent a trampled egg I stuck my hand in there, AND THEY BOTH PECKED ME.

What now???

 

[gryeyes]

Get yourself a large, covered, cat litter box. Use that, with some sand in the bottom under the straw or pine shavings or whatever you use for bedding. That way it won't tip over, and it will be a sort of communal nest box. And VERY easy to clean, too!

 

[nanawendy]

Ahh that sounds really good. Thanks...I like easy to clean!