Egg Hunter Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Hello, It was my chickens first night with us yesterday in their eglu; when I checked on them this morning I found that they had decided to use the nesting box as their toilet (their cleanliness was quite impressive!). My other half reckons that one of them was perched on the side of the nesting box, when he checked on them. Have I encouraged this myself by putting shredded paper in the box too soon? I know they won't lay straight away but I thought it might help them get to know where they're supposed to lay when the time came. Does anyone have any advice please on how I can deter them using the box as their loo? Many thanks, Sally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayandrob Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Hi, I can't help much but we got our first chickens yesterday too and when I checked in on them last night all three were huddled up in the nest bit asleep, I didn't move them though they are really small still so left them there, wasn't sure if I have done the wrong thing (probably!). Can I ask how have yours been today? mine have been very timid and don't really want to come out of the eglu! Hope someone can come along with better knowledge and advise you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toastedblue Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 try putting a ball in the nesting box for a few nights then see what happens when you take it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Kay and Rob, your girls are very young so I think it may be best if they are allowed to sleep in the nest box for now. Egg hunter at close up time just push them off the nest box, they get the idea in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 You can try all sorts, shoving them off at bed time, putting a football or flower pot in the nest at night, mine still managed to sleep in there just crammed up against the wall In the end I just left them to it. I've got one that insists on sleeping in there every night, I just pick out any poo in the morning; if I can be bothered. If they're still very young they might not be very good at roosting yet, our chicks haven't got the roosting bars in yet and they're 10 weeks I think so they sleep in a nest where the bars would be. It's not a major drama, it's only us that decides where they ought to be. And if they're timid then it's probably the change of scene and their age. Once they settle in and learn that you give them food they'll soon come round. Once they come into lay and remember that you give them treats you'll be their best friend for life and you'll be tripping over them every time you go out the back door!! Good luck, hope you've both had nice days with your new chookies! Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 My two were 8 - 10 weeks when I got them and for about the frist couple of weeks they both slept in the nest box. I just left them to it and cleaned out the poo each day. Then all of a sudden they started to sleep on the roosting bars and have done ever since! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Hunter Posted August 17, 2008 Author Share Posted August 17, 2008 Thanks for the advice everyone, guess I'll just leave them to it a little bit longer and see if they figure it out for themselves. Kay and Rob - I was told mine are 4 months old but they still have some growing to do. Today they've been in and out of the eglu all day, especially when it's been raining and when there's been quite a bit of noise (building work). They do seem a bit timid though but it's still early days. They look bemused whenever our local flock of pigeons fly over! I think it's going to be a while before I get to cuddle either of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayandrob Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Thanks for the advice everyone, I thought because they are young then I wasn't going to force them onto the roosting bars, they have been sat on them all day though, hehe. I just popped out to see them again and popped a lid off one of son's old ups in with some water and a bit of food in the Eglu as I was worried they haven't eaten much, think I will just let them settle and find their feet before pestering them too much, they came out for a few minutes when I was in the garden so hopefully after a few weeks they will all be more braver. Egg Hunter, mine were the same when they saw a blackbird in the garden, they didn't know what to do and just stared at it, hehe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 All mine bundled in there the first two nights to sleep ... shoved them out and into the roosting area. I blocked the nest area off with an old lid / garden wire and some bamboo canes till I thought they were ready to start laying. Two days later we got our first egg. Since then I've only had to turf one chicken out once onto the roosting bars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLK69 Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 suppose it all depends on whether you care where they sleep - I clean out poo trays and the nest box every day - and I've never had excessively dirty eggs - Though mine are exbatts and I feel sorry for them and their start in life and try to make their life extra easy and nice now - Only one seems to sleep regularly in the nest anyway and she is bottom of the pecking order as it is. susie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 mine randomly sleep all over the house. Diferent places each night; roosting bars; nest box; floor imbetween! I'm happy for them to choose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I'm still on the original nesting box material since 1st August and no poo's in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 A naughty chook did a poo overnight in the nesting box ... though was easy to remove the shredded paper and pop into the compost. Ruined my clean record Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
