Sooo much pooping

[Emily and Nick]

Hi

 

I recently moved my two chickens from an eglu into a larger wooden hen house. It has roosting bars about two foot up in the main bit and a littler box at the back where they lay the eggs. The trouble is I think they are laying and sleeping in the little egg laying box as there is rather a lot of poo there (and none in the main bit).

 

How can I encourage them to roost on the roosting bars?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Emily

[chicken bark]

For the first few nights you can physically move them onto the perch. This should give them the idea. You could also put a football or similar in the nesting box over night but remember to take it out in the morning.

 

Some don't mind hens sleeping in the nesting box - they will come to no harm. Personally I like a clean nesting box though.

[chickanne]

What is the downside to them sleeping in the nexting box?? Louise has done this since day 1 (3 months ago) and I've never thought to stop her. Originally she did not poop in the nest but she has now started doing so. Is is too late to train her out of it ?

[Sherbet]

What is the downside to them sleeping in the nexting box?? Louise has done this since day 1 (3 months ago) and I've never thought to stop her. Originally she did not poop in the nest but she has now started doing so. Is is too late to train her out of it ?

 

Mine also slept in the nesting bit, in an eglu, but i had poo on my eggs so i now put a plastic pot stand (flat sort) which fits perfectly over the nest box, and i now have a nice clean nest box and poo free eggs. I just have to make sure i remove it in the mornings, something i forgot to do once and and to come all the way back from work to remove it...silly chicken mummy!

[Emily and Nick]

Thanks for your help. What actually happens if you forget to move the football or whatever? Would they just lay in the other part of the chicken house?

Emily

[Sherbet]

Thanks for your help. What actually happens if you forget to move the football or whatever? Would they just lay in the other part of the chicken house?

Emily

 

Don't know, thats why i turned round & went home to take it out, i had visions of them pacing up & down with their legs crossed! I now have a check list on the front door!

[Egluntyne]

They would just lay where they could if access to the Nesting box was denied.

[Plum]

..and give you a really dirty look when you get home. We've all done it or something similar.

[Alis girls]

Some of us wash the inside of the Eglu leave it to dry and forget to put back - result - 3 stressed chucks looking for somewhere to lay - now do in afternoon so they have laid first

[the bradley bunch]

all my 3 ex-bats sleep in their nest boxes - 2 in one and 1 in the other. i've never really bothered trying to move them onto perches. i clean the poop everyday so never have dirty eggs, and i honestly don't think Boo who has brittle bones would physically be able to roost, so i'd never move her. plus they look so happy & snuggly when i go to 'tuck them in' (lock the coop door & whisper goodnight) and they've had such a horrible life in cages that i just think let them enjoy their cosy nest boxes! ...i'm such a pushover when it comes to my animals! Lol

[chickanne]

Thanks, have decided that Thelmas eggs always look clean so it's not a problem. I don't want to disturb Louise as she has yet to lay (little madam!) and I want to keep her happy.

 

I was suprised the first time I'd forgotton to remove an egg and it did not get broken overnight ......and them I stopped using my chicken-brain and realised that hens are very good at doing that!!

 

 

 

UPDATE 8th Oct Louise must have heard the e-traffic. Since posting she has started to roost next to Thelma. Do you think it's because it's starting to get a bit cooler??