Seasonal Cleanout

[Sono]

Cleaned the coop out and installed fresh bedding and nesting ... everything went into the run to be turned into black gold for the gardens.

Going to redesign the nesting boxes and move them to floor level so they stop laying in the corners ( lazy asses )
and going to relocate the water barrel up high so they stop poopin on it and give more floor space...

 

[cavemanrich]

Just my opinion here,, May save you work.
Line your nesting boxes with attractive medium, for nesting,,,, like hay. Chickens may choose new nest over floor space. This way you still have floor space, and not lost to nesting boxes taking that acreage.
Do whatever is best for moving rain barrel,, Do take into consideration,, that if full,,,, it gets mity heavy.

 

[Altairsky]

Nests are fine where they are.
-Put hay inside nests. It's important that the nests have a different material than the floor.
-Put one fake wooden egg inside each nest and always leave it there.
Hens always lay where they see other eggs, it's an instinct.
-Remove the eggs on the floor as soon as possible.

 

[Sono]

Just my opinion here,, May save you work.
Line your nesting boxes with attractive medium, for nesting,,,, like hay. Chickens may choose new nest over floor space. This way you still have floor space, and not lost to nesting boxes taking that acreage.
Do whatever is best for moving rain barrel,, Do take into consideration,, that if full,,,, it gets mity heavy.

Oh I know, moved it 3 times already. Actually looking for a smaller 30 gallon to use up high for a little less weight and more compact space saving. I finally fixed the outside drip nipples, some started leaking so I just drilled and installed a whole new line, replaced the end cap plug with a valve for easier draining in the winter, also lowered it 5 inches as I had to put a piece of railroad tie ( Recycled plastic ) for them to hop on to reach it before. Already using and happy with it.

 

[Sono]

Nests are fine where they are.
-Put hay inside nests. It's important that the nests have a different material than the floor.
-Put one fake wooden egg inside each nest and always leave it there.
Hens always lay where they see other eggs, it's an instinct.
-Remove the eggs on the floor as soon as possible.

Nests do have a different material, it is soft/fine pine shavings which are something in the ballpark of 1/4" and smaller sawdust. The floor is covered with very course pine shavings which are between 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" long and about 1" wide ... they just dig a cup in the corner and lay, and its just 1 doing it... just havent figured out which one yet.