Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[merlotti]

Ok - I've had enough with cleaning out poop from the nest box because Betty has not yet learnt to perch and, every night, insists on sleeping in it, shredded paper and all.

So, tonight, I placed a medium sized, plastic football in, just to confuddle her. When I went to put them to bed (close the door) Wilson had found her usual space on the roosting bars while Betty and Keppel were both jostling for position next to the nest box to see what it was all about, neither of them having decided to actually roost, or indeed get ready for bed. They were both looking quizically at it! The question is, what will be the outcome? A game of midnight footie?

 

I'll remove it when we let them out in the morning and hope that they return to lay eggs there later in the day: I may even pop one inside so they can see it's gone.

 

What do we think? Anyone got better ideas? All welcome!

 

Merlotti x

[Snowy]

I bet one of them will find a way to sit on it overnight!

[merlotti]

Thanks Snowy!

And I bet when I open them in the morning, Betty will be sharing the box with the ball!

Any more ideas?!

[stripeybunny]

my 3 all sleep in the nesting box I too am sick of clearing out the nesting box when the poo trays are almost poo free. Might give the football idea a try next week.

[merlotti]

ok - didn't work. There was still poop in there this morning. Maybe I need a bigger ball that takes up ALL the nest box!

[Christian]

An upturned terracotta plant pot might work?

[Plum]

That would make a nice perch Christian

[Christian]

If you get one big enough, it covers the whole nest box (in the eglu). They you just lift it out and the nest is clean!

 

*sticks tongue out at Plum*

[Plum]

*puts a smartie on Christian's tongue*

[coco]

One of my girls goes to bed about 15 mins before everyone else just so that she can get in the nest box first.

[MarkBevBen]

they're so clever little ones and very funny with it hey!

[craftyhunnypie]

We could do with shower cap things or liners to put over the nest boxes at night.

 

Emma.x

[Mrs Webmuppet]

My method is to put a large plastic plant saucer over the pop hole, with a small plastic bucket (the sort kids have to build sand castles) of pebbles to wedge it in place (all on the nest box side of things).

[LeeMeadfan]

One of mine tends to do this too. But sometimes carlotta has laid her egg befor I let them out so 'blocking' the nest box would mean she'd probaly just lay it on the bars!!

 

Perhaps we can get some chicken nappies!

[chickenopolis]

Ours sleep in the nest box at night, and it's my job to poo pick in the morning.

If I am too slow in poo picking, both my girls stand on the roosting bars of the cube making all kinds of noise until I clear it out, and then they can lay in the nest box to lay their golden treasure.

Yes, I know, I am a fool to pander to them, but it's only a bit of poo

[merlotti]

ok , neither the small football not the large football worked - Betty just snuck in next to it and it kept her warm all night!

 

So, tonight is an upturned large pasta bowl, although when I looked in earlier, all three seemed to be crowed as near to it as they could be. I think they enjoy seeing what I'll try next! WIll keep it up though - I really don't have time in the morning to poo pick from the nest box!

 

Plum and Christian - stop it! mmmm, Smarties!

 

Merlotti x

[merlotti]

Now i feel REALLY guilty

When I went down this morning, after putting an upside down porcelain bowl in the nest box, not only had Betty tried to sleep their. but there were also three eggs around it's edge - poor little things being so uncomfortable when trying to lay their eggs.

So, I've given up.

I'll put up with cleaning the nest box out every day, and Betty sleeping in it. After all, what harm can it do? So she'll never be a 'real' hen - well, she deserves some comfort after the life she's had. Now, if only Keppel would stop sleeping on top of her, she might get some!

 

Merlotti