What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[eggscombobulated]

I have had my 5 chickens a week now........they live in a gorgeous pink cube and are very happy together. However 3 of them have taken to sleeping in the nesting box and 2 "hang over" it!! Will this prevent them from laying eggs (do they do this at night?) in there later and if they did they would get pooyey woudn't they?! Should I be putting something in there or covering the entrance so they get used to sleeping in the right area before they start laying?

 

All your experience much appreciated!

 

One more thing .......how long does one keep topping up their pellets.....they don't empty their grub containers and I just seem to be adding alittle more each day with alittle bit of bokash and garlic granules....is this right? They get greens and other bits between 3 and 4 and I am letting them out of their 3 metre run for 1/2 hr or so each day......

[alih]

Just top up the pellets whenever they need it. I have an eglu so put a flowerpot in the nesting box at night to stop the pooey eggs! Will be interested to see the responses though as my cube arrives next week...

[Redwing]

I have no experience as I have been a chicken owner less than two weeks but I do have a couple of answers whoch just goes to show how quickly you learn from this forum

 

One of mine slept in the nest box which got in to a real state, I tried lifting her gently out at night and placing her on the roosting bars but she is a bit dim and didn't get the hint so I put an upside down flower pot in there at night now and take it out in the morning.

 

One forum member did say that she tried the same but one of her girls lays during the night but I think in most cases they don't tend to so you should be ok.

 

Regarding the food, I only fill my grub up every two or three days but I think they start to eat more as they really get in to the laying routine so soon I dare say it will need to be filled daily. Don't worry about stale food being left in the bottom as mine at least stick their heads right in and have a root around

[Hen Watch]

Mine don't lay at night. But have been known to leave me an egg at 5am in the very light Summer months.

 

I actually don't mind my girls sleeping in the nestbox. If you put Auboise (or similar) horse bedding it soaks up poos and I just flick it into the poo tray in the mornings.

 

But if it bothers you..... I have seen on this forum others saying put a flower pot or football in the next box in the evening. They will then roost on the bars and you can pad out into the garden after dark when they've settled and remove it......

 

Edit to say: I just top up pellets daily. Then after a few days I tip out what they've not eaten into their treats bowl, add warm water to make a slushy pellet porridge and they fall on it like it is the best treat ever......

[Olly]

Two of mine sleep in the nest-box, and yes it does mean the eggs get poo on them Rather than block it off I've lined it (with a Lakeland Fleximat, but a lino offcut would do perfectly), which makes it easier to clean out.

 

Now I've fitted a bumper bit to bully Yolko, I am wondering if I can persuade them all to sleep together in the main Cube. The trouble with blocking the nest-box off is that you need to get up very early to remove the flower-pot or whatever you use.

 

Don't worry about the feed - suddenly one day soon you will find the Grub empty, and that means eggs are on their way!

[eggscombobulated]

Thanks for your comments I like the idea of giving it to them in the pm mixed with water - will try that...last night 3 were in the nest box and 2 hanging over it, they are funny and cute the way they cuddle up together! Forgot to put something there but I will for 2 or 3 days and see what happens and if they revert to type I will leave it and resign myself to messy eggs when it happens!

[Forge Cottage]

We have had a sleeper in the nestbox and I took up the advice to place an upside down Flowerpot overnight - in fact quite a large one!

 

I did hear a bit of shuffling after lights out...

 

In the morning was a spectacular sized poo dead centre on the top. She must have been wedged against the ceiling. It would have made an impressive egg - Good accuracy skills. But not sure what messages I am giving the chickens...

[mostin]

In the morning was a spectacular sized poo dead centre on the top. She must have been wedged against the ceiling. It would have made an impressive egg - Good accuracy skills. But not sure what messages I am giving the chickens...

 

 

They will keep trying for a while, you have to be more stubborn than them, and that takes some doing .

[Andy M]

We originally had 3 chicks. Then in June this year bought another 5. Eight in a cube works well. However during the first day of full integration of all 8 it poured with rain. When they went to bed all 8 got into the nesting box !! All we could see was a big bundle of soggy feathers. Normal service was resumed though the next day.

 

Andy M - Bromsgrove, Worcs