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

[mullethunter]

At the moment only my Pekins are laying. They are 3 (Shelley) and 4 (Bernie) in the pecking order with the Wyandottes above them (Penny 1, Amy 2).

 

I've got a bit of a problem in that whenever a Wyandotte notices a Pekin has gone to lay, she goes in and turfs her out of the nest box. Amy on Shelley is the worst. This majorly upsets said Pekin who the spends ages moaning very loudly which must drive the neighbours mad!

 

Does anyone else have this and better still a solution? I don't think another nest box would help because the Wyandottes don't want it for themselves they just don't want the Pekins in there!

[Chickabee]

Oh that's horrible. I would try another nest box though. The problem with the go is the nesting area is where they sleep. I've not had a problem with the girls turfing others out, but I have with them turfing out all the nesting material and pooing in it

[mullethunter]

Yes it is a bit rubbish for the poor little Pekins. It must get really bad sometimes because more than once I've found Shelley's egg in the run

 

In that case, does anyone have any ideas for an additional nestbox? Has to be standalone outside as it won't fit in the Go.

[sjp]

Yes it is a bit rubbish for the poor little Pekins. It must get really bad sometimes because more than once I've found Shelley's egg in the run

 

In that case, does anyone have any ideas for an additional nestbox? Has to be standalone outside as it won't fit in the Go.

how good's your carpentry? it's not hard to make a wooden nest box all you need is a few bits of roofing lath and either half a sheet of ply or a few lengths of cladding or floor boards a few screws and nails all it's is a simple box about 12inch wide and high and 18 inch long open at one end or open at the end of the long side if you only want 1 to use it at a time google home made nest boxes of dog kennels for ideas and adapt open for your needs

[mullethunter]

I have got plenty of bits of wood around so I suppose I could stop being lazy and make one. I'll be building the base for the permanent run myself (sort of like a raised bed but filled with sand, paving slabs and woodchip rather than compost and soil) so I ought to be able to manage a nest box.

[mullethunter]

how good's your carpentry?

 

To answer that though, generally 'shoddy' would sum it up

[redsunset]

Chooks are funny though? I have 12 nest boxes but they insist on only about three places which causes a rumpus and the odd egg being laid in strange places!

No matter if I supply additional nesting inside the shed a fuss will be made!

 

All I can say is good luck as chooks will not be moved from what they determine to be 'their' coveted spot! Total pain, but we love them anyway!

[Chickabee]

I've got a tiny little rabbit hutch with no run. The door doubles as a ramp my chooks really like using it as a nesting box. I managed to talk the pet shop into letting me have the display model so I didn't have to put it together myself. I also have one of those covered cat litter trays. That was a lot cheaper and is a bit smaller.

[Guest]

I just use a cardboard box in the run, chuck some bedding in so that any girl is crossing her legs in the queue for the ladies can use the box instead.

 

I throw the box out regularly so it does not get grubby. Or even a plastic crate such as a recycling box will do.

[mullethunter]

I have the big 'lid' bit of a cat litter box in their run. On one occasion three of them laid in it on the same day, but never before or since

 

Probably looking for something around the place to see if an alternative location will work at all is a good idea before I spend time making something.