Temporary nest box on the floor?

[Chad Oftedal]

My birds lay in plastic bins.
Perhaps you could try something like that?
I’ve even seen people use those covered cat litter boxes for their chickens.

If I do/did go a temporary route, this is exactly what I'd do...since we happen to have cats in the house, and after the use as a nest box, it could become a second litter box.

 

[Chad Oftedal]

After taking 2 ratsnakes out of my nest boxes the chickens quit laying....... so i thought. I found a nest in the sand beneath the roost way too far back to make these creaky old bones to go after daily. I changed the bedding and added some golf balls to no avail. I then took an echo chainsaw carton with all its bright coloration and made sure it was sealed up and put in that corner. They avoided it and began laying again in nest boxes. That might work for you by blocking the areas they want to use but i would also pin back one of those curtains on your nest box and make a larger entrance.

Ah, that's a good thought! It hadn't occurred to me to open that up more, but that narrow opening might be a little too small initially until they figure out what it's used for and then may not care once they're accustomed.

 

[aart]

Ah, that's a good thought! It hadn't occurred to me to open that up more, but that narrow opening might be a little too small initially until they figure out what it's used for and then may not care once they're accustomed.

Agrees...and tho that's a rollout nest(I think) you may want to bed it until they get used to laying in there...then slowly remove the bedding so the eggs roll.

 

[snow5164]

My girls stick their heads in to see if it’s occupied, maybe put a curtain with two openings ??

Life would be so much easier,If they’d just tell us what they prefer

 

[New2Chicks97]

That looks like a nice nesting box but maybe as other mentioned the curtain over the opening is keeping them from entering.

I have come to the conclusion that I need to revamp the nesting boxes in my coop. I think my girls want privacy like your nesting box provides as they constantly seek out small hidden covered spaces. Today all 6 girls that laid decided to use the one outdoor nest I left for them and avoided the coop nesting boxes. They must have lined up and waited their turn.

 

[Chad Oftedal]

OK, I taped up one of the flaps to make it about 60% open. It does make a nice difference, so it will be exciting to see if that doesn't help encourage them a bit. I also got to "ruffle the back feathers" of my squatting RIR out in the run tonight. She seemed to enjoy the back scratch, and she was definitely happy to see me when I entered the run as she pretty much ran right up to me. I know she's not the second egg layer, so hopefully with this activity, she's not far behind the others.

 

[cmom]

These are some nest boxes when this coop was new. Since I have cut off the roost bars and they get in and out of the nest boxes fine. Years ago I used spanish moss in the nest boxes but now I put pine shavings in them.

 

[Hopperkiller]

OK, I taped up one of the flaps to make it about 60% open. It does make a nice difference, so it will be exciting to see if that doesn't help encourage them a bit. I also got to "ruffle the back feathers" of my squatting RIR out in the run tonight. She seemed to enjoy the back scratch, and she was definitely happy to see me when I entered the run as she pretty much ran right up to me. I know she's not the second egg layer, so hopefully with this activity, she's not far behind the others.

Well you do seem to be enjoying trying new things and spoiling your girls. Good luck.

 

[pennyJo1960]

are you offering oyster to you girls that can firm those soft eggs often allot of feeds are not quite enough I have a bucket layed sideways with oyster in it kinda spilling out that way they have it when they want it

 

[Chad Oftedal]

are you offering oyster to you girls that can firm those soft eggs often allot of feeds are not quite enough I have a bucket layed sideways with oyster in it kinda spilling out that way they have it when they want it

Yeah, I have one of those two compartment/partition feeders (from TSC) set up for them with grit on the one side and oyster shell on the other. It’s out in the run and available all day.