pwms Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 I wonder if anyone else has experienced this. We noticed one of our hens (Beaky) pulling straw from under the nesting box part of the cube through the ventilation/drain slot. This coincided with one of the others (Victoria) having a nasty wound on her abdomen with feather loss and subsequent pecking and drawing blood in the open by Beaky. Putting two and two together I think Beaky found a way of pulling feathers when the others are laying and then got a taste for blood. There's no sign of how Victoria got injured underneath like that - they are either in the run or fenced in on grass so no major sharp things around, so this is just a theory. Has anyone else seen this and better still how to deal with it? Is there a way of protecting against this subversive attack possibility? I have segregated Beaky for now and I am waiting for some bumper bits to be delivered, but is there a way to cover the slot with a fine mesh that would still allow air flow? Regards Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 I have made (well Hubby made) a cover for the vent slot,as I use Aubiose in the nest box & it would fall straight through otherwise. I would recommend changing from straw anyhow,as it can harbor mites & gets soggy quickly. Aubiose is very absorbent & works a treat. Out cover is a slim piece of hard plastic with a bit on the end that swivels,so when you put it over the slot & twist the swivel,it holds it fast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 I wonder if anyone else has experienced this. We noticed one of our hens (Beaky) pulling straw from under the nesting box part of the cube through the ventilation/drain slot. I think we've been generally luckier, but in our cube the hens seem to treat grabbing bits of straw as a bit of a game. The main offender, Kiki ( ) is obsessed with having clean bedding (if we top up the existing straw, she'll always go for the new stuff at bedtime) - I wouldn't be surprised if she does it on purpose to get more straw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 I use a couple of sheets of newspaper with the straw and change it every day. So never wet and always fresh. Works for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 I've cut a slice off a gardening kneeling cushion and squashed it in the nest box slot in the . The girls can't pull it out or scratch it up but it comes out easily enough for cleaning. Now if I could find something to stop the bedding going down the hole in the nesting box I'd be laughing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
