- Sep 22, 2012
- 5
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My 4 hens are 3 months old. About 10 days ago we moved them into a new coop and they're already comfortable with it. Inside the coop are a roost and 2 nest boxes. At night, they've been sleeping on the roost or on top of the nest boxes and during the day they'll be in the run or they free range, but never spend much time in the coop and have paid no attention to the nest boxes except to climb on top of them. A couple of days ago I put a golf ball in each nest box, so that when they are ready to lay they'll know what it's for. Today I noticed the hens weren't in the run or free ranging, even though I'd propped open the door so they could get out. When I checked the coop, I found all 4 of them piled into one nest box. I chased them out, but they kept getting back into it. They were in there all day and only came out for food and water. From everything I've read, they shouldn't be ready to lay for a couple more months, so I don't think thats it. Did the golf balls attract their attention to the next boxes and now they've decided they like them for just hanging out? Normally when they free range they spend a lot of time just sitting under the bushes. Maybe the nest box feels like hiding under the bushes? Will this be a problem when they are ready to lay? Should I close off the nest boxes until they're about ready to lay? Or should I just ignore it and see if they continue to do it? Tonight when I checked them, they were back on the roost. So why only be in the nest box during the day?