debsea Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Have a new cube to put my six chickens in. They love it especially the nesting box. All six try to sleep in it and ignore the roosting bars. Any suggestions to encourage them to roost as normal chickens are supposed to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I've got an eglu rather than a cube and usually put an old football in the nestbox. It works but we have to be up early or we sometimes find an egg laid on the roosting bars . I think I've heard that some people block off the nestbox entrance of the cube (may be wrong ) but again, you'd need to be up early to remove it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccroft Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I had this problem and want to try and avoid it happening with my new flock. Two of the hens would sleep in the nestbox. I spent weeks moving back onto the perch but went on holiday and it started again so gave up. As my new hens will only just be POL is too was thinking of blocking off the nest box area. Has anyone had success doing this or have you found that they have started sleeping in there since laying bagan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I've had 5 girls in mine, very snug!! I just pooh pick every morning, so it's not too bad when they lay later. They don't really roost anyway, maybe because they're ex-bats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madbird Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 All ours try and get in the cube nest box... apart from having to clean it out more regularly cos of the poop, I don't mind them using it (must be warmer for them at the moment in this weather) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoebe Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Again, all 4 of mine usually try to sleep in there, and three usually manage , with the fourth half in. I just leave them and clean it up in the morning. I think I'd rather sleep on warm woodshavings than cold plastic, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margalot Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Hi we have a cube and four hens. I put a tall box blocking the hole just before they roost and took it out when I let them out at daybreak (around 7.30am at the mo) But the other morning when I went to get the box Bon bon had been trying to get in to lay an egg and knocked it over. so now I dont bother to block it off and luckily they all huddle together in the roosting bit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debsea Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 I think I've got the record and six get in the nesting box together. The bantam can be seen peeping out from underneath one of the others! I think I shall just leave them at present while it's so cold and when the weather improves and we get a couple more, we'll try some 'blocking off' tactics. Any other ideas gratefully accepted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 We've had five normal sized chicken in there before, and one often perches on the divider and poos on their backs I've given up trying to get them out, they'll sleep where they want too and i'll change the bedding every day. We use shredded paper so it's not like it's expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 if you have the front grill off a cat box, or something similar, then slot it in between the hole in the nest box and the roosting bars to form a sort of portcullis. It slots in just nicely and the roosting bars hold it in place. Or just secure it with a bungee cord. Don't know if I'm explaining it very well. That's what we used to use but now we use the door of the run which we removed because the cube run connects to our walk-in run so we didn't need it. It makes a great barrier btwn the nest box and the roosting area. Just don't forget to remove it in the morning I can get photos tomorrow if you want, just let me know. The only reason we section it off is because our disabled chicken sleeps in the nest box with the little bantams. If we let them all in there, they'd sit on her gammy leg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debsea Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 thanks for the ideas I like the grill/run gate idea. I too have a redundant gate to the pen and might try to do the same. A photo would be great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 thanks for the ideas I like the grill/run gate idea. I too have a redundant gate to the pen and might try to do the same. A photo would be great no problem, will do it tomorrow for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 The last two nights someone has slept in the nest box in both eglus I have to change the nest each morning due to the large number of rather large poos they did. I put an upturned pot in one, but, the morning saw an egg laid right next too it, which must have taken some amazing balancing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 here you go It just slots nicely in btwn the bars and the nest box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoebe Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Love the hens peeping over the top ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Love the hens peeping over the top ! I was just about to post the same thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debsea Posted January 23, 2009 Author Share Posted January 23, 2009 could have been designed for it!? Thanks I shall give it a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 you're welcome nosey little madams aren't they! Ian says they're saying "what have you got for me, what, what!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dora Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 I know this may sound daft, but does it matter if they sleep in the nesting box ? I have 2 girls , 1 of them sleeps in the box and the other perches at right angles to her. When I check on them after they have gone to bed they seem so cosy I tend to think leave them be.They are happy and have obviously sorted their sleeping arrangements to suit themselves ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 the only reason we section the nest box off is, as I've said, so that our disabled girl can sleep comfortably. Otherwise, we'd just leave it open as they do prefer to sleep in there in a big huddle. It just means there's poo in there in the morning so you're likely to get poo coated eggs It's up to you, if you're happy letting them sleep in there, leave them to it. There's no law that says you shouldn't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I have found that once they start laying that they then leave the nest. I've had two girls who have occupied the nest box even though they were moved every evening, they'd still sneak back over night. As soon as they started laying (was useful to work out who too) they slept on the roosting bars . Some great ideas in the other posts as obviously if you have 6 in there it's going to get pretty messy every night . Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
