Wing It Ranch

[thistlewick]

It appears the pullets are messing around in the nest boxes after the hens lay their eggs. I worry about them cracking them before I can collect. I keep finding the eggs buried and I've seen one of the pullets messing around in the box.

They're only 11 weeks old so no where near POL.

Any advice on how to prevent the pullets from playing in the nest boxes without blocking them off so the hens can still access?

This is me toooooo little messy pullets! Pooping in them too - ugh no! My girls lay clean eggs you little monsters!! lolol

Your shed/coop/run is so cute I just love it to death! I may be biased since I have a red/white barn as well

still it is super super cute and your chickens look so happy and healthy

 

[wrathsfarm]

I feel like the projects are never done... I was so happy to finish the little coop/run for a grow-out pen/chicken hospital. Then I was so happy to finish the run extension with outdoor roost bars.

Next is finishing up my rain water collection system to feed horizontal nipple waterer into the coop.

But I also have an idea... right now I have 4 nest boxes. Which was perfect for 10 hens! ... but not 18 once these pullets start laying. I called up the guy who built my coop (the one thing I didn't DIY) and I think I'm going to have him put an identical nesting boxes (3) here:
View attachment 4109927

Bonus is the funny image of one of my Barred Rocks running towards me thinking I'm a treat dispenser.

Double coop size at blue arrow. Put more nest boxes next to existing ones. #chickenmath

Your welcome.

 

[thistlewick]

^^^ this is the correct answer -- when I realized that my poop boards *edges* are also roosting space and my chickens use them as roosting space.. and then I did the square footage calculator...

280 divided by 4 (this is just for sleepytimes, because they free range all day)

That's 70 chickens. WAHOOO

we won't go over 50 but still, we *immediately* decided to grow the flock out!

oh yeah don't let anyone tell you that you cannot name 30+ chickens. Oh yes you can, I have and I know them all by name and we have.. 42, most of them pullets and chicks.

 

[WingItRanch]

Th

This is me toooooo little messy pullets! Pooping in them too - ugh no! My girls lay clean eggs you little monsters!! lolol

Your shed/coop/run is so cute I just love it to death! I may be biased since I have a red/white barn as well

still it is super super cute and your chickens look so happy and healthy

Thank you!!!

 

[WingItRanch]

Double coop size at blue arrow. Put more nest boxes next to existing ones. #chickenmath

Your welcome.

Absolutely not, Wrath.

 

[WingItRanch]

Technically I did double the size of my coop.... I put the open aired coop on the other side with plenty of roost bars!

Yeah, I think I'll just let the pullets be teenagers and hope they don't break any eggs.

I did decide to add nest boxes where the arrow is... 3 of them. So 5 nest boxes in total for 18 should be enough. I don't PLAN on getting any more chickens right now. Maybe next year if I get a broody, I'll find some hatching eggs since I do want a good rooster.

I know this is very unpopular but the plan has always been to butcher the hens when they get older and stop laying. I'm not sure yet if I'll be able to do it... but this is the reason I don't name them!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Absolutely not, Wrath.

I feel an "I told ya so" moment in your future...

PsychicEnabler

 

[wrathsfarm]

Technically I did double the size of my coop.... I put the open aired coop on the other side with plenty of roost bars!

Yeah, I think I'll just let the pullets be teenagers and hope they don't break any eggs.

I did decide to add nest boxes where the arrow is... 3 of them. So 5 nest boxes in total for 18 should be enough. I don't PLAN on getting any more chickens right now. Maybe next year if I get a broody, I'll find some hatching eggs since I do want a good rooster.

I know this is very unpopular but the plan has always been to butcher the hens when they get older and stop laying. I'm not sure yet if I'll be able to do it... but this is the reason I don't name them!

I have quite a few I still call by leg band color til I select thru them.
Nothing wrong with harvesting your culls. My wife won't let me butcher, but I sell most of my boys for butchering.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Technically I did double the size of my coop.... I put the open aired coop on the other side with plenty of roost bars!

Yeah, I think I'll just let the pullets be teenagers and hope they don't break any eggs.

I did decide to add nest boxes where the arrow is... 3 of them. So 5 nest boxes in total for 18 should be enough. I don't PLAN on getting any more chickens right now. Maybe next year if I get a broody, I'll find some hatching eggs since I do want a good rooster.

I know this is very unpopular but the plan has always been to butcher the hens when they get older and stop laying. I'm not sure yet if I'll be able to do it... but this is the reason I don't name them!

I know where you can get all kinds of different eggs if/when you decide to expand