Question on nesting boxes and chickens

[vweers]

Okay so I bought this coop and it only has 2 boxes which is supposed to be good for 6 chickens. If I had thought and taken a little more time, I would have preferred 3 nesting boxes. Most of the time, we are good and the chickens of course, prefer one box over the other (all 6 of them). Sometimes I have two chickens either sitting in the same box or pushing another one out in order to lay eggs. A few of them take a lot of time and sit on the eggs longer after they lay it. We try to keep on top of them getting their eggs out so they can let the others lay. I am not sure how much I need to get a third box or that they will eventually even out so they won't always try to push the others out but also not hang out too long either. A few of them will flip boxes but most of the time they prefer the one box. Any ideas or suggestions or tell me just to let it go and they will figure it out. Thanks.

 

[MeepBeep]

i have a lot of birds that tend to go broody and hog boxes, so my solution is to keep adding more boxes so that there is always an open one for a bird to use...

How big is your coop? If it's big enough you can toss in an enclosed litter box for now and provide a third nesting box that is easy to remove, clean and what not for a reasonable price... It's also a good nesting box for broody birds as it can be moved out of the main coop with the broody bird and her eggs/chicks if needed...

http://www.menards.com/main/grocery...p-1478256-c-8292.htm?tid=-4446549351549793448

 

[vweers]

Not easily at all. One of the things about this coop, I am not happy with. My own fault but oh well. The one kitty litter box I do have is too big for going inside the coop and can't leave it outside as it isn't water tight.

 

[barneveldrerman]

Do u have a pic of the coop?

 

[vweers]

I will try to get some more tomorrow but here are some from awhile ago. It hasn't changed.


Where you see my boy is the nesting boxes and the roosts are the 2x4s.


Not the best photo of the bottom part of the inside and then there is a open part on the base of the coop.



Not the best photo but that is the full size outside photo. Not sure any help, there isn't a lot of access to the bottom vented section other than the doors they come out so it isn't that easy to get things in and out of there.

 

[DanEP]

As long as their all laying in the boxes don't worry about it. chickens tend to lay in nest boxes that somebody else has used because it must be safe. I also see that your roost appears to be standing up(2" side on top) you might try laying them down wide side up.This will be more comfortable for them and let them sleep on their feet in the winter keeping their toes warm.

 

[jk47]

Its normal for hens to have a favorite nest box
For the longest time I had 4 nest boxes for my hens and you know what the decided to do is all use only I nest box all 13 hens laid in the same box for the longest time

 

[barneveldrerman]

It should be fine. Even with more boxes they will always prefer one box over the other. You might be able to some how make another box.