youngsters kicking straw out of nest boxes

[sarafrog]

I have two Australorps, about 21 months old and laying well, and added two 11-week-old pullets to the coop about a week ago. The youngsters seem to be kicking all of the straw out of the nest boxes every day so the hens have to lay on bare wood. Any suggestions on this?

The pullets also seem to spend quite a bit of time in the upper part of the coop instead of down in the run (A-frame style tractor with enclosed upper portion for roosting and laying). I have put a box in the run with food and water for them in case they need to escape from the hens. I have seen a little aggression from the hens but no blood...they will chase the pullets away from the scratch I throw out so I always put some on both ends of the run. The hens are not persistent in chasing or pecking the little ones. During free-range time the hens and pullets don't mix but move around the yard in their age pairs. Does this sound like typical behavior?

 

[phoenix_rising]

Sounds just like my girls. Except my big girls are SCARED of the little ones!!! It's pretty darn funny actually...

except for when they throw all the bedding out of the boxes. This is driving me crazy because the eggs on hard wood crack easier. I hope someone has some answers for ya because I'd really like to know if there's something that can be done for that too! My boxes have a lip on it so at least some of the bedding stays in the boxes. Does yours have a lip of sorts?

 

[sarafrog]

Yes, my nest boxes do have lips of at least 3 inches...you know how effective chickens are at moving material around, though.

 

[phoenix_rising]

Oh yes I do!! lol.