hornet Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I've had my Cube for 3 weeks now - loving it. All 3 hens are getting on fine (touch wood). I cannot, however, stop them from sleeping in the nesting area. I have resorted to putting a flowerpot in the way so they can't get in but if I remove it they sleep in there again. They have not started to lay yet. Will they work out what this area is for once they begin? If anyone has had a similar issue I'd value your thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topdollar Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 (edited) I've used the flowerpot method too and I believe several other omleteers have too. I used it for about 2 months and now they sleep on the roosting bars without it (although most of mine are laying now) I do however check on them about an hour after they have gone to bed and have to move out willemenia from time to time. I know that some omleteers let their ladies sleep in the nesting box but I know I'd have to change the straw every day if I let mine. Edited November 12, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsSlats Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 we use the flowerpot method but have had a few breakages in the morning when we've not made it out in time to unblock the door. So last night we snuck out at 11pm and moved the flower pot out of the way while they were asleep on the roosting bars! no pooh in the nest box this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornet Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 Thankyou. I like the idea of removing the pot at night, it would be interesting to see if one of them 'sneaks in'. I assume that they just need a bit of training to sleep in the right place. They all got really grumpy when I moved them back on to their roosting bars last night. I've still got the peck marks to prove it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I've found that the smallest size tubtrug fits the hole between the roosting area and the nest box perfectly. The purple one even matches my cube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 we found that after a week of turning Katie out of the nest box she doesn't bother anymore, although one of the little darlings sometimes sits back to front on the roosting bars with her back end over the nest box!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-J Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Does it matter if they sleep in the nest box? I don't mean that to sound cheeky or smart but I got my 2 back in April and noticed Dora always starts off in the nesting box, but they both laid from the first day we got them- both in the nesting box- so I never thought of it as being a potential problem! What I have noticed however is that sometimes if we've been out at the weekend and it's been late when they've been shut in for the night (1am-ish) then both are on the roosting bars- so maybe Dora just likes to start off in the nest box to get her in the mood for sleep! Maybe yours will be the same... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I tried the flowerpot method as it worked a treat in the eglu. But with the cube the first morning I found that despite the 3 massive pots there was also poo in there and a broken egg....not a great success! Might try the taking it out at night solution however as don't like poo picking first thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I just let them get on with it & I scoop the poo pile out in the morning... I feel too mean to force them out of there at bedtime! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmat Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I was about to post a new thread on this issue... I started one last week then decided to put a wooden box over the whole when I locked them in, so I did that and it works fine. Except that twice we've found an egg on the roosting bars in the morning. At 6.15am! We never used to get any eggs before 7.30! I am not sure what to do now as my girls are quite far down the garden and I am not sneaking out at 11pm to remove it. My nesting box is full of their business. Hmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I have 8 chooks and they all sleep in the nest box! I've removed the divider as they started sitting on top of one another and I got worried about the girls on the bottom layer. Now they all crowd up that end and seem content if they all have at least a claw or 2 in the nest area You can imagine the state of the nest box every day () but, to be honest, we're used to it and it's no big deal. The rest of the cube is largely spotless of course Bar Ping they're all ex-batts and Ping is quite elderly now, so I think whatever makes them happy is fine by me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 You can imagine the state of the nest box every day () but, to be honest, we're used to it and it's no big deal. The rest of the cube is largely spotless of course. DITTO So long as my girls are happy, I don't care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
