liz.dudley Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Every morning I'm having to clean out the nest box of the classic as one of the girls is either sleeping in it or over it and therefore droppings are getting into it over night. No one is laying at the moment and I'm putting barley straw in each morning. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Don't put straw in? If they aren't laying anyway, why bother? You could also put an upturned pot in the nestbox at night, so they can't sleep there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liz.dudley Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Good point, the Sussex are POL but I don't think they'll lay until the spring now? Might try the pot tonight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I have 3 flower pots in the cube that I put in before bed time. As none are laying now the pots are in there until I see someone walking with their legs together and doing the funny whinge. Oh and crouching! Edited to add there are 2 big pots on the side and another strategically placed in the hole! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 My new girls are in a basement flat at the moment (aka rabbit hutch) and they sleep in the small part but also lay there....what a nightmare. The problem I have is that its dark by the time I get home and they are already asleep and they look so Cute all snuggled up I don't have the heart to shift them out I (and my back) cannot wait until they are all in the cube (penthouse apartment) together....I love the cube so much more after having to clean out the damn hutch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Have to admit the cube is certainly brilliant for the back. The eglu is for intros and my goodness how relieved I am when they are all together. Although I don't like crawling around the run when it's clean out time. A lot to be said for WIR's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liz.dudley Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 well there's an upside down terracotta flowerpot in the nesting box tonight, let's see what happens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Hope they didn't get underneath that one! Just remember to take it out - er guilty of forgetting to empty the nest box here a couple of times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liz.dudley Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Not sure they're going to be laying until the spring now to be honest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I'd give it a few days and then keep it in over winter. They'll get used to the roosting bars and not be tempted. I keep mine in because it stops them sitting in damp feathers - at least on the bars they get aired! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liz.dudley Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 checked through the side door when I closed up for the night and Snowy was sitting on the edge of the flower pot!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I used to block off the nest box with a flowerpot but in the end I gave up and just poo pick in the morning. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill2b Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Maybe we are lucky but we are still nearly always getting 3 eggs a day from our 3 ladies, Wardrobe has laid one every day since September, we have only had a couple of missed eggs from Betty and Mutha, but we don't hold it against them. Now talking about nesting boxes, tonight was another new experience for us, Irene put the girls back in their main run tonight at 1630 ish, at 1645 I remembered that I had meant to clean out their sleeping area which was a bit pooey. Poor Betty had already settled in for the night so I asked her nicely to shift over a bit, I did a quick job and dumped all the waste in the incinerator ready for a burning, the whole event only took 3 minutes max. All three of the girls were right by the door watching what I was doing and when I got to the standing area Wardrobe had climbed up the steps and watched me lay the sawdust down. as soon as I had finished they all trooped in clucking contentedly. We do love our ladies and have stupid grins on our faces most of the time when we are with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liz.dudley Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 they're still pulling out the straw as soon as I put it in! Plus as the two sussex are sleeping in the nesting area it's getting rather dirty in there so I'm trying to clean it a few times a week. Do I just not bother with the straw? The added complication now is one of the sussex has started laying (yippee!) so don't want to just block off the nest box! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 I let them sleep where they like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Me too! But I put wood chips in the nest box. As I heard that straw can harbor red mites... They leave those in most of the time. Sometimes I find a poo between them and I just fish that one out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 I've found a quick and easy method of poo picking the nestboxes in the morning . I keep an old rubber glove inside the WIR - so much easier to pick up the poo than scooping with an implement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 I've found a quick and easy method of poo picking the nestboxes in the morning . I keep an old rubber glove inside the WIR - so much easier to pick up the poo than scooping with an implement. Me too .It is easy and if my girls are sleeping where they are happiest then so be it .. Jackie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liz.dudley Posted January 12, 2015 Author Share Posted January 12, 2015 my try switching them to the chippings then for the nest box, currently use them under the roosting bars anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 I don't use wood shavings though. They look more comfortable, but I found they will start to mould quite quickly and one of my chickens will eat them too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liz.dudley Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share Posted January 13, 2015 I've got easibed? would that be ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
