Won't Use Nestbox!

[gritsar]

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[AccentOnHakes]

I'm so annoyed! I came back after school today, all excited because I couldn't wait to see two eggs in the nesting box, like they should be. I opened the (human) door, and see....

An egg in the box, and an egg on the poop board. On top of that, the egg on the poop board was slightly cracked on the pointy end, from dropping onto the wood.

I guess I'll have to take the poop board out again tomorrow morning, and again on Thursday just to be safe. Or I can find two rocks on put on the corner of the poop board where she wants to lay...which would be better?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That. Don't want her to get in the habit of using the poop board for a nestbox.

 

[ChicksterJo]

When I found my Delaware's first two eggs on the run floor, I was

. But the next time I knew she was going to lay (I was watching her), I picked her up and put her in the nest box. Ever since, she has been laying in there. I consider her my "special needs" chicken because my others knew where they should lay.

 

[AccentOnHakes]

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Believe me, I put her in the box about 10 times already the moment I saw her trying to nest on the poop board. She would have nothing to do with it.

For now I have two objects on the two corners of the poop board she has nested in(ripped newspaper = good evidence!) and tomorrow and the day after the poop board will not be in the coop during the day. This will be a pain, but still.

(The cracked egg has finally convinced my mom that I'm doing the right thing...she kept on telling me I should let the poor hen be. I WILL NOT!)

 

[AccentOnHakes]

Today: After removing the poop board, I came home to two eggs in the nest box. I was not so happy to find the waterer knocked over again. I guess I need to remove the waterer tomorrow, too.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Oh do you mean to leave them without water? Not good. How is it situated that they knock it over? How big is the waterer?

 

[AccentOnHakes]

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Oh do you mean to leave them without water? Not good. How is it situated that they knock it over? How big is the waterer?

It's a standard red and white 1 gallon fount. I put it on top of a cinder block, but I don't fill it up completely because with only two, they don't go through that much water. I don't leave them without water--it, along with the feeder for pellets and the box for oyster shell, goes out into the run.

I didn't get an egg from #2 today, but #1 did lay me an egg.

 

[AccentOnHakes]

Went out and called for the girls, waited a while and nobody came. Hmm, that's odd. Then #1 came from somewhere around the corner, she was poking cautiously around the grill, extending her head and acting like she wanted in. Lifted the cover, and there was #2 sitting on the ground! Looked like she had kicked the rock aside and managed to not sit on the wedge. I picked her up and put her in the nesting box, then put the rock closer to the wedge. Peeking in through the door, I was amazed that #2 was quieting sitting in the box. Then she stood up; I waited for a while but she didn't sit back down. I went to clean up the apple core hanging from the tree(they had finished it) and give #1 some attention, then #2 came out of the coop. I opened the door and there was an egg in the nesting box!

Too bad she tried to lay under the grill again.

 

[allpeepedout]

When mine first started laying, I found eggs laid on the floor. I was very concerned that it would be come a habit. However, over the course of about a couple of weeks, they all sorted it out and learned to lay in the nestboxes. I would give it some time. Didn't read all the posts but did you experiment with different nest boxes and nesting materials? Mine love the covered kitty litter boxes with very soft hay. They like a darker, out of the way place, too. Good luck.