Question About Nesting Boxes...

[drinkoj]

From what I'm seeing in the picture (having to use Cntrl-+ to zoom in), the watering can is higher than that roost bar.

 

[Gooseface]

Have they been allowed to sleep in the nesting boxes the entire time they have been in the coop? They could start laying any time now. Not going to be easy to break them of this now...

 

[drinkoj]

Ok, thanks! I have 6 Golden Laced Wyandottes

You need at least 6 ft of roost bar from these chickens (1' per chicken), so turning it to run long ways in the coop might be best.

 

[Gooseface]

Move the pvc feeder you have to the short side and put a roost bar along that wall. About 1 foot away from the wall. And higher than the nesting box....maybe the height of the top of the water bucket.

 

[drinkoj]

Have they been allowed to sleep in the nesting boxes the entire time they have been in the coop? They could start laying any time now. Not going to be easy to break them of this now...

Oh geez, you're right, at 19 weeks it might be tough to retrain, but if I'm not mistaken, Wyandottes lay much later , somewhere around 6 months I think.

Also, that's a larger bird, so you might need more than 6 feet of roost bar for those big girls.

 

[BDutch]

Make more roosts!

I believe Wyandottes are not very good jumpers. -> Make a comfortable and easy to acces roost + one higher they can jump on or acces with a ladder.

 

[BDutch]

You can train the chickens by putting them on the roost bar every night at dusk.

After one or two weeks they probably will understand and do it on their own.

 

[preciouschick]

I have 6 young hens who aren't quite laying yet. Every night they cram themselves into their nesting boxes. There is a TON of poop in there. I don't want eggs sitting in that, of course. Is there a way to discourage this, or will they just stop pooping in there when they start laying? Any info is appreciated.
(Here's a picture of the setup.)View attachment 2353543

When I first put my girls out in the coop. I put a piece of plywood to cover all the nesting boxes. One or more of mine decided to cram into one box before I covered them. I guess it was for security. After I covered them, they would all huddle in a corner. I read to put them up on the roosts so they know what to do. When it came near time to start laying I took the plywood off and put fake eggs in there. They all roost now and that didn't take much to get them to do that. Most them had the instinct to roost. Roosting bars should be higher than the boxes.
Hope this helps.

 

[Kimmys78]

Mine are doing the same thing and one of my hens is laying. The coop I bought said big enough for six, however it is super small and the roosting bars are the same height as the nesting boxes. What should I do, I can't get another coop right now. My fiance could probably build one but needs plans for one, but I can't do a extravagant one as he had back surgery a month ago. Help!!

 

[aart]

What should I do,

Might do this.....
Here's an excellent modification to that kind of coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535
Or turn that whole coop/run combo into a coop.
Might be good to start a new thread here.