calinz Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 hi, my 2 new chooks sleep in the nesting box bit of their eglu, i expected them to perch on roosting bars, is this normal and what will happen when they start laying - any info please would be great, thanks! carole x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Yes, many do. Block of the nesting box with a plant pot if you would prefer them not to, but remember to move it early in the morning. I've noticed that some of mine start the night out in the nesting box, but if I go out to check them very much later, they are all on the roosting bars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 I would put a stop to it: it will be quite a bore having to clean the nesting box every day for at least three years. I simply lifted the hens on to the bars through the eggport when I went to shut them in every night, and after a week they stopped going in the nest. They are creatures of habit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Mine love snuggling up together in the nest box. I have aubiose in it topped with a sprinkle of straw - I just have to change the straw each day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 I'm a big softie and let my girls sleep in the nestbox if they want. It has Auboise in it to soak up poos which need to be flicked out in the poo tray each morning. Sometimes get the odd pooped egg but I just wipe them down with damp kitchen roll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 I'm a softie too and have had 5 of my 6 in the nest box at one point . Think it's got a bit too cosy now it's got warmer and at least three are on the roosting bars. My little ones are on shredded paper in the nest box, so I pick out any big lumps when I collect the eggs and clean them out properly once a week. Seems to work OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Slats Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Hattie sleeps perched in the entrance to the nest box with her head facing into the box and her bum sticking out over the roosting bars... so luckily no mess in the Auboise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calinz Posted July 4, 2008 Author Share Posted July 4, 2008 Thanks everyone! Really useful ideas and its good to know they're normal!This is the first time i've used a forum and i was chuffed to get responses, thanks you!! Cheers, carole x ps is it easy to put the coloured chicks at bottom of replys, have checked profile page and cant see what to do! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCoop Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 There is always at least one of ours in the nest box (Usually Babs!), but if the others get in first then it's one of them. They seem to like it and they don't really poo in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 ps is it easy to put the coloured chicks at bottom of replys, have checked profile page and cant see what to do! x Calinz, you need to look in the FAQ section. See this link below to add little hens etc. to your signature. http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21966 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Welcome to the forum, Calinz . My girls used to sleep in the nestbox occasionally but didn't mind being moved. They rarely do it nowadays! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 hi and welcome . My two sleep in the nestbox everynight together subbled up, I haven't got the heart to turf them out. It's not much to clean the nestbox each day IMO much better that and letting them sleep where they want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
