Silkie thread!

[NewToFarming]

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Mine love the covered kitty litter pans. As a matter of fact I will have to get more because I have bunch of younger pullets coming of laying age so there is alot of bickering right now and 2 of them are trying to be broody in one!

 

[reereechickens]

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I shipped out hatching eggs and purchased hatching eggs all summer last year and never had any problems. If I order hatching eggs in the summer and I unpack them and they are warm from being in the truck they go straight into the incubator but the turner gets shut off for 2-3 days. IF the eggs already started to develop during shipment, why bother letting them cool down? I actually had some great hatches during the summer, I think I got about 14 or 15 eggs and ended up with 10 or 11 chicks. And it was HOT when they were shipped.

Thanks! I have been wondering this myself. I even posted a question in incubating section and didn't get a great answer(buy hatching eggs locally). I REALLY wanted someone to tell me if the hatch rate is better in the heat or is the cooler times better. Thanks!

 

[FrenchToast]

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I use the same boxes I ship eggs in. 12 x 12 x 8 that way when they get bad I just burn them and put in a new box.

Good idea, I have alot of those laying around. Do you cut out a door or how do you do it???

Thanks

 

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

I just tape the bottoms, cut off the flaps on the top, put in shavings and your ready to go.

 

[Gordonhillfarm]

I use large plastic dog food bowls for nesting in from wally world - they are really cheap and easy to clean $1.68 and they come in fun colors LOL purple - turquise --yellow -- keeps things colorful in the barn

~~~Tammy

 

[FrenchToast]

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That's interesting. So don't the girls fight over the bowls??

So how does one get them to start using it?

I had put a box from Aldi's (food chain) that had one side lower on it but tall enough sides to give them privacy and couldn't get them to use it for the life of me. My showgirls are especially bad. Lay in the far far corner. Then they want to brood on them and it is like flys stuck to Poop to get them to get off of them, and being 4' away is a real pain. So I figure if I get something that I can slide across the pen if I need to and grab the eggs would work out good.
Rightnow I have a small leaf rake that I can fetch the eggs with but not when they are trying to sit on them

Thanks for all the tips, keep em coming !!

 

[Teresaann24]

I use plastic totes with the lids not the huge ones but a decent size ones. I put them on the outside of the pens. I cut a hole in the side and attach it to the outside of the pens the girls love going inside to lay and when I collect eggs all I have to do is pop the lids and there is the eggs no trying to fight them for their eggs trying to go inside the pens.

 

[robin416]

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I have birds that all have varying nest wants. Some want to be out in the open, the frame you mentioned is one I utilize for my girls that don't want to be under something. I have larger pet carriers, I just plunk either the top or bottom down for those that want a covered nest. Then I have a whole group that have decided none of the above works, they lay behind the feeder. Move the feeder and they follow.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Mine refuse to use the nesting boxes we specially built in the coop. They'll find a nice corner in the coop, dig a nest, and sit.

 

[pistol123]

Mine do the same, fancy box and they lay eggs on the floor!