Oldmeldrum_Hen Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 Hi All, I'm new to the world of chickens and have just got 2 Speckledys and 2 Bluebells (20 weeks old). After a bit of a fraught start they now seem to have settled in. I have a coop with three nest boxes and three 3ft perches. However at night the seem to sleep in a big heap and on one occassion found all 4 squashed into one nest box. I removed the nest box dividers to try an give them more space however I'm now not sure if they will be happy to start laying without me putting the nest box dividers back in. Any advice from more experienced keepers would be greatly appreciated. Meldrum Hen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 hello and welcome to the forum *waves* dont worry about the chickens and their sleeping habits - they will sleep where they want to even if you give them a featehr bed - if they want to sleep on top of each other then they will someone had an "issue" some time ago where there were tons of the sleeping in a little eglu even though they had 3 to choose from, they all wanted to sleep in the same one together I dont know about the nest box dividers, someone will be along soon to help with that one, but i think i would wait and see - if they lay then dont worry about it, if they dont shove the dividers back in an wait a bit longer... hope this helps oh, and do you have any photos....we like photos cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 I take my nest box divider out - the little madams just crush into one side in one big heap if I use it. So I figure they can all crush into one 'bigger' space rather than one tiny space. Mind you, some days Ada will decide to lay sideways on and take ALL the space. Do whatever's easiest for you Meldrum Hen - your girls probably could not give a hoot (or a cluck ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 They will be fine and will sort themselves out, also just keep an eye on the red mite under the removable bits - the roosting bars and divider for the nesting box provide an ideal habitat for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmeldrum_Hen Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 Thanks for the advice .. I will leave the ladies to their 'sleepy heap'. They seem happy with the arrangement. Meldrum Hen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
