When to remove nesting box blocks.

[aart]

They start off the night in a pile in the corner. When I open the coup in the morning they are on the poles. I'm not sure at what time of night they go from the chicken pile to the poles. I will find adequate sized container and put enough weight in it so the chickens won't be able to get in there. I also heard that nest box curtains can be used to prevent entry into the boxes at night. I'd like to come up with a clever way to close the curtains without having to crawl into the coup (4' X 4', approx, ground level)

Post some pics of your coop, inside and out, showing nests and roosts....
...then we can help you figure out some solutions.

 

[Capoken]

https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalo...alow-Chicken-Coop-up-to-6-chickens-p1185.aspx

This is my coup.

 

[Whitepinefarm]

G I have included some pictures of my coop and run. To make a long story short my husband had been violently opposed to having chickens for years. 2 months ago we went to an Amish auction and my enthusiasm for the coop seemed to mementarily overcome his aversion to chickens so I struck while the iron was hot and I got the coop. Got 3 RIR chicks shortly thereafter. Realized I needed to improve on the coop to keep the chicks safe from predators so we built a 8 x 12 ' run for them which encloses the coop. I feel comfortable with the run and it's ability to keep the chicks safe but know I need to expand the coop space to keep the chicks comfortable. My goal is to get 2 more chickens next Spring and limit my flock to 5. Suggestions would be appreciated.
P.S. My husband is now a chicken lover. Go figure.

 

[aart]

Suggestions would be appreciated.

Start a new thread here, just paste your text above, to avoid confusion and for net etiquette.

 

[aart]

https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalo...alow-Chicken-Coop-up-to-6-chickens-p1185.aspx

This is my coup.

You could be able to slide a cover in and out from the outside, experiment with apiece of cardboard. My first thought was a section of rolltop, but doubt that's possible.

 

[Capoken]

Oh I like the roll up idea - like maybe a roman shade. I'll let you know how it all works out. Thank you!

 

[aart]

Oh I like the roll up idea - like maybe a roman shade. I'll let you know how it all works out. Thank you!

Would have to be pretty tough stuff so they don't tear it up and eat it.
A roll top cover is strips of wood glued to heavy fabric to make it flexible enough to follow a curve but stiff enough to span it's supports.

You could even remove the dividers on the nests and cut them at an angle to accept a flat piece of wood as a cover...or remove that lock hinge so lid would go up far enough to slide cover board(or heavy cardboard) in...cover could sit on top of dividers during laying time.

Here's one of the best prefab roost/nest modfications I've ever seen.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1134399/help-hens-roosting-in-nest-boxes/10#post_17749535

 

[Capoken]

Wow - that is a very good idea. I was wondering how I could raise the poles up a foot and that would do the trick. I am still going to try blocking the boxes and leaving the poles where they are, hoping they correct their behavior. But if nothing else works I will do that mod exactly. Thank you very much for posting the link.

 

[PhilSanchez]

I hope that you have a roost set up higher than the nesting box, if you close off the box they will naturally go to the higher roost.

 

[EggWalrus]

Wow - that is a very good idea. I was wondering how I could raise the poles up a foot and that would do the trick. I am still going to try blocking the boxes and leaving the poles where they are, hoping they correct their behavior. But if nothing else works I will do that mod exactly. Thank you very much for posting the link.

I can see the problem plain as day from the pics. The roosting poles are WAY TOO LOW. Chickens will try their best to roost on the highest thing they can, whether it's in trees or in a coop. If you'll raise the roosts up higher than the nests, they will forget all about sleeping in nests. But move then up high, about a foot from the top of the coop. Do that and you'll make your birdies happy. And you'll keep nice clean nests.