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

[mullethunter]

At the moment Bernadette is in the broody cage so Shelley is effectively on her own with the Wyandottes. I think because this has changed the pecking order a bit, Shelley's being quite badly bullied. It's at its worst when she's laying her egg, and when I got home from work today her comb was quite bloody and there was blood all over the inside of the Eglu by the nest box. I'll put a load of broccoli in tomorrow to try to distract them, but do you think adding another nest box would help? If so, bearing in mind I have limited space, has anyone found anything that works well?

[Cat tails]

Shoe box on the roosting bars? Small cat litter box (one with lid) in the run? Have never had this problem, but that's what I would try.

[mullethunter]

I already have a covered cat litter box in the run that they use as a dust bath and which has in emergencies been laid in. There isn't really room for a box in the Eglu, although I guess I could try that and just take it out every evening.

 

I just went out to shut the run door and could hear poor little Shelley sort of creening. She has her head wedged as much in the corner as she can to avoid being pecked

[gavclojak]

Oh bless her, I would cover her comb in vasaline so those nasty bullies can't grip on it x

[mullethunter]

I think I might do that in the morning Gavclojak. What with Shell being picked on and Bernie making little 'I'm so sad why have you shut me in a cage?' Noises they're making me feel like a horrid, mean and rubbish chicken mum

[mullethunter]

Ordered some gentian violet on next day delivery

[gavclojak]

Ordered some gentian violet on next day delivery

 

I know it's tried and tested but when I have used this it has actually drawn attention to the hen, I found all the hens wanted to see what was going on with this "blue" hen and decided to see if the blue tasted good. Maybe it's just me or my strange girlies

[mullethunter]

I must admit the risk of that hapenning has crossed my mind. There's no fresh blood this morning so I've slathered her comb in vaseline, put two bits of brocolli in the run and left them to get on with it. Luckily OH is at home poorly today so if things do look bad he can rescue little Shell

[Cat tails]

Can't you stick Shelly in with Bernadette at night? So she has some nicer company and no fear to go to bed? And then stick her in with the other two in the morning.

[Luvachicken]

How did they get on today while you were at work ?

[mullethunter]

OH let them out quite early so as they were out and about most of the day I think things were better. I don't think Shelley's comb had any new blood on it.

 

Cattails I did consider that but I didn't want to have to get up early to let her out.

 

Bernadette will be out tomorrow so hopefully things'll calm down again.