AndyRoo Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Hello, Has anyone had this behaviour from one of their hens before: One of our Legbars has started going in to the nesting box and scratching around until she has kicked all the bedding material from the hole in the bottom. If we go to replace it, she immediately does it again. I'm getting a bit annoyed as it's making a mess all over the run, and obviously we're using loads of it! She's only just started doing it in the last 2 weeks, and I've no idea why. Other than blocking up the hole in the bottom of the nesting box, can anyone think of a way to stop this? Or even have a theory about why she's doing it? Cheers, Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 yep I've got 3 or 4 that do it all legbars or legbar crosses. I used to think that the first 2 that start to do it found some grain in the bedding I used to use but at least one of the crosses has never been on that type of bedding. mine tend to do it with in an hour of the bedding been changed the main coop mainly has the bedding moved around the floor for a couple of days a Gold legbar and a CLB the gold was the first to do it the pullet coop it gets about 90% of the bedding kicked out but I've got at least 2 crosses in there that are more legbar that other breeds plus the cockerel has a fair bit of legbar in him now I've just put it down to legbars been more inquisitive that the rest of my mob or down right stubborn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Just a natural nesting and foraging behaviour. It might be that the nest box is too light so you could try and darken it a bit (don't ask me how ). Lots of people covered the hole in the Cube next box with flexible chopping boards a few years ago. We did it but it but found it was an excellent hiding place for Red Mite so soon stopped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 PS. Hay isn't a great nesting box material as it can harbor spores which are bad for their respiratory tract so I would switch to wood shavings or EasiChick/Aubiose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted April 2, 2017 Author Share Posted April 2, 2017 yep I've got 3 or 4 that do it all legbars or legbar crosses. I used to think that the first 2 that start to do it found some grain in the bedding I used to use but at least one of the crosses has never been on that type of bedding. mine tend to do it with in an hour of the bedding been changed... Maybe it's a Legbar thing then. I think it's the same one that does it every time, the other one doesn't seem so bothered. But if she think she hasn't done the job, she gets up and goes back in to make sure. And if we approach the cube she watches us to see if we put anything new in - if we do, the second we close the door she hops up and starts doing it again. I love my girls, but I could wring her neck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted April 2, 2017 Author Share Posted April 2, 2017 PS. Hay isn't a great nesting box material as it can harbor spores which are bad for their respiratory tract so I would switch to wood shavings or EasiChick/Aubiose Yeah, I've read that - but then I've also read that it's a load of codswallop too. I think it's just one of those things where people have had different experiences of them. I always buy the dust extracted ones to help. Maybe I'll just have to tape up the hole. I didn't want to because of the ventilation issue. Maybe I can find some kind of breathable tape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 I think micropore tape,that is used for surgical tape is breathable. Though it's prob not good idea to tape vent coming into warm weather. My silkies also kick all wood shavings out of go up. I put it down to nesting instincts. I am not too keen on the go up nest box for this reason, I much prefer the cube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted April 2, 2017 Author Share Posted April 2, 2017 I think micropore tape,that is used for surgical tape is breathable. Though it's prob not good idea to tape vent coming into warm weather. My silkies also kick all wood shavings out of go up. I put it down to nesting instincts. I am not too keen on the go up nest box for this reason, I much prefer the cube. It's okay: I have found some tape which is meant to be used to fix broken plasterboard - it's like an open mesh. I am just checking it's plastic as opposed to fibreglass, and if it is, I might use that. I don't want to completely close it off for the very reason you say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
