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[Brian Downing]

Does anyone have a simple tip on how to discourage our two chooks from poo'ing their nest ? ( other than getting up at 5am to let them out of their Eglu ! ).

Thanks for any help.

Brian

[Stewartg1]

We put an upturned plant pot in the nesting box to try and discourage them from sleeping / pooing in it at night.

[Brian Downing]

Thanks for that Stewart.

Does putting an upside down antiPoo-flowerpot on the nest prevent your chooks laying eggs during the night & early hours of the morning (or until the pot is removed) or do you find that the chooks lay eggs elswhere within the Eglu house ?

Brian

[Stewartg1]

Hi Brian,

 

it doesn't seem to stop them laying eggs in the nestbox, think the trick is not to use too large a pot.

 

cheers

 

S.

[Brian Downing]

Stewart,

Ah, so the pot is left in the nest permanently which stops them getting too comfortable & prevents sleeping/poo'ing on the nest. But, when they want to lay, they still have just enough room to squat (sideways ??) whilst they produce the egg.

Is that correct ?

What size pot do you use (top rim diameter) ?

Thanks for all that Stewart - very helpful.

Brian

[Stewartg1]

we usually take the pot out in the morning and put it back in the evening, will check what size it is tonight and let you know.

[Brian Downing]

OK Stewart - thanks, I'll away your next posting.

Thanks.

Brian

[The Dogmother]

Hi Brian

 

It's a simple and low-tech solution; when you go out in the evening to shut the eglu door, just pop an upturned flowerpot or a child's football in the nest, then take it out in the morning. They don't lay at night, so there's no problem with stopping them from laying in the nest.

[Brian Downing]

Thanks Clare - very useful.

Brian

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I put an old football in the nestbox at night and take it out in the morning. At the weekends we occasionally get an early egg on the roosting bars but it does prevent poo being laid in it!

[Redwing]

I tried the flowerpot trick but one of mine has started laying now and she lays in the night

 

I just persistantly kept opening the eggport during the evening and moving any sleeping chickens on to the roosting bars, eventually they got the hint and don't sleep in (or overhanging) the nest box now - took about 30 or so tries to get it in to their heads mind

 

Every now and again we will have a relapse and I will find a mountain of poo but not often.

 

Bit of poo on the eggs all adds to the free range effect though

[Brian Downing]

Thanks everyone for your posts - they were all very useful.

Brian

[Stewartg1]

for info it's a 15cm pot we use.

[Brian Downing]

Thanks Stewart - I'll look one out.

Brian

[JoMonkey]

Thanks for the tip! I've been trying the flowerpot trick over the last few nights and it seems to work a treat! They lay in the early morning and seem to know to shuffle the pot to the side to get in for laying.

 

Do you think we could stop with the pot after a few weeks? After they get used to being on the bars?

[Stewartg1]

I suspect that once you remove the flower pot they will be straight back into the nesting box.

S.