| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| velvetcadi7 |
Posted - Oct 01 2008 : 07:08:58 AM
I hope someone can help my girls! They don't seem to know which end is up!
They have just started laying and the are sleeping on the nesting box and lay eggs all over! I don't mind finding the eggs so much - it is like Easter everyday in the hen house!
The problem is that they are sleeping on the nesting box - 9 hens in a row with their HEADS in the boxes and hineys sticking out!!
Now 2 of them have started laying like this!!! I have found 2 broken eggs and 2 laying on the ledge! How do I straighten them out???
Thanks!!!
Amy |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Annab |
Posted - Oct 04 2008 : 03:27:36 AM
That is funny
I have had 2 setting hens in the same nest box too. There are 5 boxes so it beats me why anyone would want to sit all cramped up like this.....in the heat..... for 21 days??
After 1 1/2 weeks, one hen finally did give up and the other became momma to 3 silkie chicks. Cute to see fluffy black and white bodies all crammed into the same box peering out at you. (One momma is a black splash, one is white |
| countrygal56 |
Posted - Oct 03 2008 : 4:39:51 PM
Amy, your chickens in the coop must be a funny sight to see. How do they get any sleep hanging on for dear life? I'm sitting here laughing, it's very funny just thinkng about it.
Barb |
| velvetcadi7 |
Posted - Oct 03 2008 : 07:45:56 AM
Thanks for all the advice! I actually had my first egg in the little door thing today!!!
As for slanting the roof - mine is metal AND slanted but before they discoverd that 9 heads could fit in 5 nests; 3 or 4 hens would sleep on top!!! You would hear them scratching on the metal to hold on and a lot of ruckus and feathers flying everytime they slid off!! Finally, one found she could hold on by wrapping her neck around a barn beam, so the rest would wedge themselves behind her to hold them up!
Before I had chickens, I never would have guessed how entertaining they could be! My friend was laughing at me because I had a chair out by the run and would sit and watch them while snapping beans or shucking corn. She told me it was creppy to just stare at them and called me a chicken stalker! I informed her that staring at them would indeed be creepy but that I TALK to mine and that is SOO much better!
My 10 year old son was telling me about a boy at school that only talks about video games so my Calvin told him he would rather have the chickens than all those silly games! Makes his mom proud!!!! |
| Annab |
Posted - Oct 03 2008 : 03:27:51 AM
I have this problem too.
Just a few chickens roost in the boxes-- and pop on the eggs is so gross That and mud when it rains
The nest boxes are in the darkest cornet, but are open on top.
Maybe if those were enclosed it might work..Oh, and slant the top too so they won't poop on top of the box |
| countrygal56 |
Posted - Oct 01 2008 : 9:08:04 PM
I love chickens, whether they are confused or not. My birds keep me laughing. They have such unique personalities.
Barb |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Oct 01 2008 : 09:06:41 AM
I hate poop in the nest boxes. Only Blanche sleeps in one, and she does not poop that much, but it is the box that Flora has chosen as her own to lay in. If I don't get down there asap in the morning to clean up before Flora lays, I find she has moved all the poop to the edge of the box. She doesn't like it either. lol
Definitely darken the nest boxes. You could even just use a piece of scrap fabric and staple it up.
Karin
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
www.perfectlittlemiracle.blogspot.com
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| Bellepepper |
Posted - Oct 01 2008 : 08:43:09 AM
We had the same problem, hens roosting in the nesting box. What we did was, Ole Ron built a frame with wire on it and attached it to the top of the row of nests. After I gathered the eggs in the evening, I dropped down the frame so the hens had to roost on the roost. First thing the next morning, I raised the frame so they could get in the nest. Only had to do that a few times and they got the idea. I was glad that there was no more poop in the nest. |
| willowtreecreek |
Posted - Oct 01 2008 : 08:07:02 AM
Make sure your nest boxes are dark and try putting a "dummy egg" or golf balls in the nesting boxes.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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www.willowartist.etsy.com
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| Ms.Lilly |
Posted - Oct 01 2008 : 07:26:31 AM
Yup- what Dawn said, I bought burlap to put over the front of mine at Wal-Mart for very cheap. Also make sure that your roosting bar is higher than your nest boxes. If it makes you feel better, I have 1 gypsy chicken that just refuses to use her next box. She usally lays her egg in a different spot on the ground but, has been known to lay in a flower pot or the wagon.
Lillian |
| deeredawn |
Posted - Oct 01 2008 : 07:19:06 AM
For starters, I couldnt help but laugh..... Chickens LOVE very dark places to lay their eggs, maybe the nest boxes aren't dark enough so they are going in "head first". Maybe tack a heavy canvas or feed sack over the door with a slit cut up the middle so that they can get in and out. Or reposition your nesting boxes in the darkest corner of the coop. Do you have a timer light? If so, reset it so that it goes off at night little earlier....
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens/Mother Hen
http://heirloommavens.blogspot.com
http://harvestthymefarm.blogspot.com
"I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one!"...Calamity Jane |
