4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[divinggatita]

I have a pair of ex-Batts Buttercup and Ginny whom we've had for 13 months now. They have never been happy to sleep on the roosting bars and have always slept in the nest box piled on top of each other. Blocking the nest just caused problems with egg laying on bars and then being broken. I ended up taking out the big section of roosting bars in the eglu and they both now sleep happily in the poo tray leaving the nest box clean for egg laying. I have to daily clean the tray but that's ok I'm just concerned in case it's bad for them in some way, but they hate to perch!

Anyone any experience of this behaviour, they seem so happy I don't want to force them to roost if its ok for them not too.

 

Sandy

[Abbey Road Girl]

Hi Sandy,

 

What you've done sounds like good common sense to me. I think if there was something harmful about it, they would probably show some signs of distress.

 

Others should be along to agree or disagree with this. In the end you will do what you think is best for your girls.

 

You have already blessed their lives!

[Laura & CTB]

That's a really interesting idea. My two chooks avoid the bars and squash together in the nest box to sleep, I may have to try an experiment

[chickenanne]

I guess battery hens have such an unnatural life that the lack of roosting bar use is likely to happen even when they're available!

Have you tried lifting them onto the roosting bars so they get the hang of it? I GUESS if they're happy and nesting somewhere clean it shouldn't be an issue though!