over easy Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 hi again, sorry to ask more questions. tonight is third night of havin my chooks, every thing seems to be going ok althogh have not seen alot of them due to work they are happily taking themselves to bed before i get home about six though do get a fright at first cos i cant find them. as you probably guessed they are huddled up together in the nest box. do i just leave them alone or do i need to try and keep them out as i have seen on some previous posts.i have four chooks in a cube. thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Cockell Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 If mine are in their nest boxes I move them to the perches (I don;t have an eglu by the way just a traditional hen house so might be easier for me to access?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 My original girls all sleep on the roosting bars. However, my bantams all sleep in the nesting box of their eglu and the ex-batts all sleep in the nesting box of their cube. I have given up really. I change their straw daily so that it's always fresh in the morning and I figure that's all I can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 my maran sleeps in the nestbox...she looks quite snug in it so i leave her in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 I've had all 5 in the nest box at one point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygal Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 The first few days I had my 3 they all were in the nest box on top of one another- I remember being quite concerned and wanted to know if it was "normal"- seems to be that with chickens' sleeping arrangements...anything goes! They now seem to roost a bit more spread out now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayflower Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Hi, I seem to remember someone suggesting putting a downturned box into the nestng area to encourage the hens to perch at night. Then removing it each morning. I'm planning to do that when my hens are collected. I think especially with ex bats the nest box would be sooo cosy. But I really want my hens to start perching asap. I'm also thinking of getting a rubber egg to go into the nesting box in the cube.....just to show them what it's for. Of course,this is all theory to me until they arrive. So this idea will probably go out of the window lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 mine started off huddled together in the nesting box, but one by one they have gone on to the roosting perches at night. just leave them too it i say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 When I first got mine they were happy on the roosting bars then they got the liking for the nesting box. I now put in an upturned washing up bowl before they go to bed and now they have gone back to the bars. I take it out again when they get up in the morning. If they lay before they are let out, they just deposit the egg on the bars. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...