Unsecure chicken perches

[johnandkymberley]

Hi, when we let the hens out in the mornings we have no eggs, or havent so far and weve had them a week. The nesting box is usually full of poo and sometimes wet, we usually use a poop a scoop to take this out and put fresh sawdust in. Are they not laying eggs because it full of poo, is this usual does everyone else have this in their nesting box? p.s when we have cleaned them out 1 hen regulary lays after! thanks in advance xxxx

[Egluntyne]

They will lay when they are ready, and a pooey nest box won't put them off.

 

When they start crouching, you will know that they are almost ready to go into production.

[johnandkymberley]

Hi, when will i see them crouching? xxx

[Lavenders_Blue]

My hens sleep and poo in the nest box overnight. I'f I'm not quick enough with the daily poo pick they will quite happily lay their eggs in it - delightful!

 

You will usually notice them crouching if you try and pick them up, they sort of flatten themselves to the ground (they think you are a cockerel). Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule, for example mine refuse to crouch if I am trying to remove them from where they shouldn't be (such as the veg patch ) back to where they should be. Then they just run around laughing at me.

[The Dogmother]

Hi, when will i see them crouching? xxx

 

Don't worry too much, the hens will come into lay when they are ready; they usually come into lay around the 20 week mark, but they are all different just like us humans, so don't take that as a goal for them to start laying. Most hens will start to crouch roughly a week before they start to lay, having said that, some hens never crouch.

 

They will lay when they are good and ready. If you want to keep the nestbox clean, then pop a football or overturned flowerpot in there over night and remove it in the morning.

 

May I suggest a good read through the FAQ section and some old posts to answer questions and allay your worries?

[johnandkymberley]

Hi, my hens are 9 months old, they came from a farm where they laid every day, however with me they dont, isit because of new surroundings? what would be the idea of the football or plant pot? sorry if i being thick!!!

[Christian]

Probably just settling in nerves and getting used to their new home.

 

The flowerpot will stop them sleeping in the nesting area, but needs to be removed during the day, so they can lay (when they are ready to).

[The Dogmother]

Hi, my hens are 9 months old, they came from a farm where they laid every day, however with me they dont, isit because of new surroundings? what would be the idea of the football or plant pot? sorry if i being thick!!!

 

When were they last wormed? If you don't know, then it's best to get a pot of Flubenvet from your vet and worm them - an infestation can affect the egg production.

[johnandkymberley]

Hi, thanks for the advice, how can i tell if they have got worms? are there any symptoms?, they were wormed regularly every year at the place we got them from, thanks p.s i have had 3 eggs today!!! so we are making progress, i think i underestimated how affected they may be changing homes etc xxx

[Leicester_H]

Mine sleep in the nest box, so always some dropping in there - but not a damp as you describe.

We put some shredded paper in (to block the drain hole) then some Aubiose, then top up with shredded paper.

Top up paper when it seems low (every 2nd, 3rd day perhaps)

It always seems quite dry - I scoup out any droppings with a stick and push under roosting bars - with 2 hens, this seems fine with weekly proper clean.

 

H

[jennybrom]

do you let them free range? My neighbour had one that laid in the middle of a bush but they didn't realise until they came to cut the bush down and found a small egg mountain!

[johnandkymberley]

hi, yes they do free range and thinking about it they have alot of space to hide eggs! We have had three eggs today which is an improvement as we usually have 1-2, i really hope they are getting used to their new home, as i said before i think we underestimated how much they were affected by their move, ive got my fingers crossed tho xxx

[johnandkymberley]

hi all, just wanted to tell you all, i had no poo this morning and yesterday and today there was an egg!!!! Cannot believe it, i think they are getting into laying!

[Mollie333]

Could be that, or if you are not having eggs but they have laid in the past, they may have somewhere that they are laying insted of in the nesting box.

[johnandkymberley]

Hi, we have had four eggs in total today!! 1 in the morning, found in the nestbox which we dont usually have, 1 at 10am which is Cherrys' egg as she lays at the same time and we saw her go in!!! one at 1.45, Hazels' egg and another one who laid when we werent in, so only two havent laid today, so fingers crossed tomoz they will, they are getting into it arent they? xxx