Sand in Nesting Boxes?

[stubbornhill]

Quote:
chuckle chuckle!

Sand is SUCH a good cushion that when we accidentally drop eggs from waist height (3-3.5') onto the coop floor, and they bounce.

Now, I still ALWAYS expect the eggs to break of course, but nope... they bounce.

PS Now I have to ask...do you have sand in the nesting boxes too or just on the floor?

 

[galanie]

Your roost looks pretty high. Do they have a ramp or something to get up there with? If not, that may be your answer. Sure, the roost is higher, but if it's hard to get up on to, they won't.

 

[stubbornhill]

Quote:
Nope, no ramp. In the barn that they were previously in, they just flew up to roost on anything they chose to. My husbands shop lights, plywood leaning up against the wall, 2x4 cross members, stacked up buckets, you name it. I may try adding a ladder and see if that helps. The other thing I was thinking, is that in the barn, it was pretty dark inside at dusk. In their new coop, we have clear roofing to let the sun in on part of it. Maybe they don't like that? I keep wondering if the new coop is ever going to be done or if I will find something new to add or tweek every weekend?

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
Just the floors

... because I tried using sand alone in the nests and it just didn't satisfy the hens... they want to pick things up and place them around their bodies when they are nesting, so sand doesn't really "do it" for them, if you know what I mean. I do a woodchip base with good topping of straw.

Now, on the floors though, they LOVE sand and it does satisfy.