The Poultry Keeper

HeatherBB · Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Chelmsford

Hi all, should my girls be discourage from using their nesting box's as beds? 3 of them take to the box's each night!! there are some perches lower (for the smaller birds) and some are higher so they could roost above the box's if they want to! Problem is they leave droppings in them that I'm not around every day to clear away before some of them then want to use the box's for laying - will they still use them? thanks.

NannyP · Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:12 am Post subject:

Some people make a template and then cover the nest boxes at night to prevent them from sleeping in them. Then, remove the templates when you go let them out in the morning Very Happy

I don;t, and I agree, the eggs can get a bit pooey Rolling Eyes

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I made a black cardboard thing to go across the front of my next boxes to keep the girls out at night. I made the cardboard a little larger so that it held itself in place ~ and black because it was more soothing than white. It was especially useful when I had the broodies, but it also kept a group of little bantams out who always wanted to sit in the boxes rather than perch ~ they didn't grow out of it!!!

fluffly_fifer · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 411 Location: Fife, Scotland

I've found that some of mine are taking to sleeping in the nest boxes.
Hopefully when we've got the new coop & run ready they'll decide they prefer the main coop.

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

Question for you.How cold is the weather?All mine stay in their nests day and night and only come out to eat and drink,because of the cold and ice.

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:51 pm Post subject:

We don't have as harsh a winter as North America, even in Scotland. Temps averaging in the 40'sF. More wet here!

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

Even if it is is cool ,being damp may have something to do with their behavior.I have to take the houses mine are in out in the warmer temps so they will exercise and roost.Another thing that could be a problem,is if there is a predator hanging around,chickens will stay where they feel safe.A chicken has good eye sight and can see a supposed or real danger to them ,even when you can`t see it.I have gotten mine to leave their nests and have been with them as they ate ,then all of a sudden one chicken will growl and the others start looking in the same direction and then they all run to to their nest,leaving me standing looking for the danger.They then do not come out for a long time.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I watched mine a few times, and I wouldn't say they saw a predator. I would say it was more likely they heard or smelt it. The first time was when foxy had paid us a visit ~ I had all the girls in their covered run and calmed down again, when they all suddenly stood, heads high, pointing in the same direction (towards the bottom of the garden ~ where they couldn't possibly see the ground) and started making so much noise. I just talked to them and they calmed down.
It happened the next day around the same time. Then many months later one afternoon, when they were all in the run exactly the same thing. I think it was probably foxy or it could have been a large bird that started them the last time, but certainly the first couple of times they wouldn't have been able to see anything. So I'm not sure I put it down to sight, maybe it's a combination of all their senses

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

Could well be a combination of all their senses--but they see things in tree lines when you can`t hear anything--they do hear good though

Fenn · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 2292 Location: Shrewsbury

Mine sleep in their nestbox as well. I did try to cover it up each night, but tbh it's easier to just scoop the poop when I let them out in the morning Smile

As for predators - if mine see a cat on the horizon (the only form of predator we have), then they dash for the kitchen door and sit tight on the step, squarking for the dog to come and save them Laughing

If I don't hear them, they make a run for the coop and sit just inside the pophole, monitoring the situation. Luckily we haven't yet had a cat realise that it could just follow them into the run... Shocked

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2241 Location: North Cornwall

When its got really dark and they have been in a while, go into the house and take them from the nest boxes and perch them.
Dont stir them up a lot and in the dark they should stay on their perches untill morning.
You might have to do this a few night running but it has always worked for me.

Jan

nigel · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:28 pm Post subject:

I did exactly the same Jan

the only one of mine it hasn't worked for is my big Orpington, I think roosting may not be comfortable for her due to her size

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2241 Location: North Cornwall

I think lots of Orpingtons dont like perching, its one of their things Smile

Jan

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

of my original 4, they never seem to perch, just sleep on the floor of the henhouse - and yet the oven readies are taking to it already with no help from me!

Strange.... Rolling Eyes

Heather · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:53 pm Post subject:

My biggest Orp was the one who perched first - all 3 of them were perching in a week though

guess it must just be an individual thing dontknow