thelurch Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 I have a cube which opens into a very large WIR, about 5 weeks ago we added another 4 hens to our 3 to try and fill the cube. Did the whole introductions thing gradually which seems to have been ok, no injuries. Now they are all sleeping and laying in the cube, I have been concerned about "congestion" for the nestbox. A couple of times I've opened the egg port and found 4 hens sat on top of each other! Omlet state that the cube is ok for up to 10 hens which is fine for roosting, tbh once they are snuggled down I think about 20 hens could sleep in there it's so roomy but the nestbox is the problem. I have read this months quiz in your chickens magazine and there is a question about how many nestboxes you should supply for your hens, the answer states one nestbox for every four hens. So technically I need another nestbox. But I designed my WIR to enable egg collection without going in the run to another box, they all seem to lay in the cube nestbox ok so will the cube be ok on it's own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 If they are happy it will be fine I have a cockerel who insists of sitting with each hen as she goes in to lay lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 The cube nest box is abouut two or three times the size of an average nest box so I guess it doesnt really count as one. Some hens however dont like to share or do cram themselves in. Someone on here made a divider to split the space in to two nestboxes which seemed to work well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 I cube nest box is meant to be Ok for 3 hens at once.... Of my girls I have one who categorically refuses to share with anyone however, I have seen 5 girls share too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelurch Posted September 24, 2011 Author Share Posted September 24, 2011 Thanks for replies thus far, redwing interesting idea about making a divider, might trial that as top hen likes to sit in the middle of the nest and guard the entrance which makes the new hens very reluctant to try and get in there, with a divider at least there would be more privacy but I guess there's the possibility of getting two hens trying to lay each side at the same time. But good idea though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylan Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 My hubby made a divider for our cube nest box as there were a lot of arguements (even with only 3 hens) which always seemed to happen on weekend mornings. It works fairly well in that they will lay in both compartments - though the back one is the favoured space. Sometimes two of them will squash into it while the other compartment is empty! Typical hens! He made it in thick ply by tracing the shape, cut two circles into it and then attached a divider at right angles. Gill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelurch Posted September 24, 2011 Author Share Posted September 24, 2011 You cut two circles in it? I'm not sure I understand, does it have a hole for the hens to step from one compartment to the other? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 There's this topic but unfortunately the pictures have disappeared from the first post (scroll through though, there are other ideas) This is one I saved, and had my dad make something very similar: (clickable pic) P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelurch Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 Thanks ver much for finding that thread and posting that photo, the previous post makes perfect sense now! Might just give it a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 There's this topic but unfortunately the pictures have disappeared from the first post (scroll through though, there are other ideas) This is one I saved, and had my dad make something very similar: (clickable pic) P Very clever You would think Omlet would have thought of this and had it as an add on order. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 My hens will only lay on the left hand side of the nest box, they hate sharing and make a huge fuss if it is occupied when they want it! I had one laying yesterday, while one bokked her head off on the roosting bar, another was on the ladders with a fourth hen bokking at the bottom, this all upset Onion (the cock) who also joined in!!! . I don't know what is wrong with the middle or the right side, but they won't go there, if desperate they sit on top of the first hen! I did use the Eglu as a spare, but they wouldn't go in it, so I have given up and left them too it - silly girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKMARCH Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I just presumed that two would happily sit together to lay, only two of ours are laying occasionally at the moment and are happy to sit together but when our others start I hope they will too, it seems a shame to have to make a divide out of wood after having chosen a plastic house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
