amateurkeeper Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 Mornin' We recently converted an old shed into a huuuuuuuge chicken house for our 7 (soon to be 10) ladies. They started sleeping in it 2 nights ago, and each evening we have put them in there and locked the door so they stay in all night (their food/water is in there too) and we let them out in the morning. However they are not understanding that they now need to lay in there too!! They are constantly trying to get out of their pen and into the old coop (which we are moving out of the garden tonight) and laying in the old cat basket we put in as refuge for the ex-batts if needed How do we make the transistion easier for them? I've tried physically lifting them into the nest boxes but they immeadiately jump off and go outside....now I know where the term "bird brain" comes from lol!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 Well our older girls have given up on their nestbox in favour of laying on the straw bales in the barn. They were forced to stop when we went on holiday and they were not let out to free-range so they had to use the nest box. The continued to use the nestbox for a short while after we came back from holiday, but have now returned to their old ways. So, you could try keeping them shut in for longer, until they have laid, and see if you can break the habit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 As you have correctly identified - moving the old coop is the answer Chickens dont take kindly to any move so that may stop eggs for a short while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateurkeeper Posted September 17, 2010 Author Share Posted September 17, 2010 Thanks for your replies I shut them in an hour ago and will check on them in a while. I've also removed the cat basket lol!!! Will update again later........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 Cold nights , age and dark nights now won't help don't expect much until spring now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
