why is my roo getting in the nesting box?

[flakey chick]

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They need to be below the LEVEL of the roost so that the chickens won't roost (and poop) in them. Chickens want to roost as high as they can. Your coop looks fantastastic BTW.

 

[Biddylover]

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So awesome we watched him again this morning it is just amazing to witness.

 

[smiley]

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They need to be below the LEVEL of the roost so that the chickens won't roost (and poop) in them. Chickens want to roost as high as they can. Your coop looks fantastastic BTW.

Ahhh.......gotcha ya!!!

So, I think I'm all set then as the roosts are very high!!

Thanks for your kind comment on my coop! I just love it!!

 

[kathyinmo]

Here is "my story," I posted on a thread a few days back:

I bought 44 chicks in May. They are now 18 weeks old. When they were about a month old, I was given a trio of 1 yr old cuckoo marans.

Anyway, 1 year old Rupert was given to me, along with his 2 ladies, Lavern and Shirley. After quarantine of 5 weeks they shared the fence line with the main flock for another 5 weeks. Now, for 2 weeks they have all (silkies also) been free ranging together. Though the silkies stay to themselves, they are quick to send the others a runnin' !

Rupert, Lavern, and Shirley all keep to themselves, and stay out of the others' way. I have been wanting to get them in with the main flock, but waiting for the others to grow. Now, since they are near laying, I figured it was time. Four nights ago we put them in the coop with the others. They have been in and out of the run and big coop off and on, while out free ranging. But,they were surely not happy.

The girls both lay an egg every day. But now, in a new coop, what to do?? Oh no, poor Lavern. Pacing the fence line, looking at her old coop, looking up at how high the fence was, and even getting up on the branch roost near the fence (contemplating jumping the fence) for 2 hours, singing the egg song. Honestly, this is unbelievable ... but this is what Rupert did. He went into the hen house (where Shirley had already layed her egg), and got into a nest, and he kept calling her with his sweet song. Over and over and over again. She would go in and come out, go in and come out. So many times, I thought Rupert would give up. During this time, many of the main flock sat inside the coop and watched Rupert, as if they were at a movie. (Only thing missing was the popcorn!). I ran inside to tell the family what was going on. My DH (Mike) and I sat out in our yard and witnessed this event. Ever so lovely, Rupert singing to his girl. Finally, she went in and layed her egg in the nest. Then, and only then, Rupert came out.... with her.

This went on again on day 2 and day 3. Today was day 4. It was just a bit different, in that before he got in the nest, he chased the main flock out of the coop. I think he was tired of the audience! LOL. Lavern was much quicker today, less than an hour of pacing and crying the egg song, "I gotta lay, I gotta lay, I gotta lay this egg, oh my!"

This rooster is so lovely. I have watched him for hours. When he mates, I swear he asks first. AND, he does accept, "no," for an answer sometimes! LOL .... He courts his girls, takes them to dinner, and is always sweet talking to them. Sometimes they squat, sometimes they don't ! Of course Mr. Manners would never do this in front of me (or anyone). This is only done in private, away from others! Around the corner of the run, or when out free ranging in the timber, etc. And ALWAYS very gentle. Those girls don't so much as have a feather out of place, much less a feather missing! I sure wish our Rhode Island Red Rooster, Rocky, could have learned some manners from ol' Rupert.

Honestly, this is a true story. Rupert brings a tear to my eye, he is so wonderful. The 3 Marans stay together, and don't bother anyone. If someone is invading their space, Rupert will gently guide them away. I mean very gently. He does not peck at the others, just shows them the way out. One time Rocky and Obama were about to really get into it. (First time I had seen this happen also.) Rupert, the lovely man that he is, simply went across the run and walked in between them, and they went their separate ways. WOW, I was shocked. Rupert does not like chaos!

Update... Day 5 ... Lavern layed an egg, ALL BY HERSELF!

 

[speckledhen]

You haven't lived till you've seen a 14 lb blue rooster with an 18" chest cram himself into a nestbox that can't be much over 12" wide and cluck to the girls. They stand around and stare at him like he's lost his mind. Sometimes, he just lies in front of the nestboxes and acts like he's nesting, clucking to the ladies. Such a supportive rooster!

 

[cnj-tx50]

The day I got my first egg I heard alot of noise coming from the coop and went to see what was up and found my big Americanna Roo sitting on top of the nsting box with his new "favorite" hen inside trying to lay her first egg. There were about 10 others in the coop really talking loud as if to cheer her on. The next day went to check and found him sitting on the egg and her outside!!!!

 

[kathyinmo]

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Oh, but I so want to see that! I want a big ol' sweet rooster, like you have! (green with envy here!)

 

[NotTheMomma]

One day I watched our Mr. Roo make three nests for this one hen. She would sit in it, rearrange the grasses, and then decline it. So off to make another nest he would go. She still declined. He even lined one with nice fluffy down feathers and it wasn't good enough. After the third nest, it was just like he shock his head in aggravation, and off he went to find another hen.

She FINALLY went into the nest box after about 2hrs of fussing.

I absolutely love watching Mr. Roo interact with the flock. Hate his mating though.

Love his dance, and all the noises he makes to them. Love how he will come check out the treats, but stands back and lets them eat first.

 

[tonio]

My 1 year old BO roo has always slept on the floor right next to the door of the coop.
However, as of late he has taken to sleeping in one of the nesting boxes.
And I have never seen him up in either of the roosts, I have put him up a few times, but he always jumps down to the floor.