hopingforchickens Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 My chickens are yet to figure out that they are supposed to put themselves to bed and for the second night I am going to have to take them off the to of the house and put them inside. So what time do they normally go to bed at this time of year. They all look nice and cosy huddled up together up there, but are definitely still awake. Should I wait a bit or put them in now? Also last night they all ended up sleeping in the nest box instead of the roosting bars, is this normal/ok or is there something I can do to discourage this? They aren't the brightest girls yet, bless them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 They should go to bed at around 8:45-9:15 in these daylight hours. If you keep putting them in the house at night, the should get the idea . Sleeping in the nest box can lead to messy eggs. You could try putting something in the nest box (eg a pot) at night, and taking it out first thnig so they cant sleep in there, but can still lay their eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Will do, off to find a big enough pot now thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 They should go to bed at around 8:45-9:15 in these daylight hours. Think that might depend where you live, I'm in Scotland and mine aren't going to bed until 10.30 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Weill I've just put the biggest thing I could find in the nest box - an up turned bucket - and locked them in. I then set about my nightly poo clear up (trying to get myself in a good routine. There was a lot of pushing and shoving going on, which didn't happen last night. I couldn't resist a peek in the nest box before I left and low and behold Cornflake has managed to cram herself in down the side of the bucket! Will have to find something bigger for tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 My mums have their chicks in bed by 6.30 - 7, the first big chickens go to bed at 7.30, then the rest are in bed by 8.30. Mine are obviously light weights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 My girls are still out now and drifting off to bed one by one. Mummy hen has her chicks in bed by about 8pm though. If you leave them they will get the idea and put themselves to bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 My girls are still out now and drifting off to bed one by one. Mummy hen has her chicks in bed by about 8pm though. If you leave them they will get the idea and put themselves to bed. I honestly think if I left them they would stay there all night I might put them to bed for the next couple of nights then leave them one night to see what they do. They have made quite a fuss over the bucket. One has squashed herself in but the others aren't very happy - first signs of discord Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacake Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I had to herd mine into bed for the first few nights, now they have usually taken themselves to bed my 9.30. myrtle insists on being in the nest box, if I put something in they all get very cross, and shuffle it out of the way, or she will refuse to go to bed. I've taken to flicking all the bedding from the nest box into the pootray each morning and add fresh bedding for egg laying time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Our bluebell takes herself to bed about 9ish at the moment, the other two are nightowls and really hang on until it is dark. We have to sneak out to shut the door or they all come charginging out as soon as they hear the back door handle turn!! Bluebell also likes to sleep in the nest box. I have put a gravity feeder in there for the first time tonight so fingers crossed she gets the hint! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Well they heard me coming this morning, but I peeked in the nest box and one of the others was crammed on top of the bucket! I think at least 2 had managed to squash in there. Going to try and find a piece of board to put across the hole to try and stop them tonight. Honestly they are more mischievous than the kids Going to try and sort out some sort of hanging thing from the roof of the run today to hang broccoli or sweetcorn from, any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacake Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 chickens are so funny aren't they! I bought a rabbit feed ball, but I've read of a lot of people using those cages for suet bird feed blocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopingforchickens Posted June 3, 2011 Author Share Posted June 3, 2011 Well I've just put the girls to bed (thought I'd leave it later tonight to see if they would do it themselves but no!). It was so dark I couldn't see the ground to do my usual poo collection, so will have to do that tomorrow, but I'm cleaning the run tomorrow so it's not the end of the world. After a few nights trial and error I think I may have come up with the right anti-nest box solution... an upturned mop bucket topped with a small washing up bowl (it makes my nest box sound huuuge - it really isn't ). They went in fairly quietly and there was no kerfuffle tonight so fingers crossed. Going to let them out in the garden tomorrow whilst I do the cleaning - hope they don't jump over the fence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
