Sleeping in the nest boxes

[Hashette]

And poohing......

Three weeks after being rescued, I'm mostly chuffed to bits that my ex bats are putting themselves to bed at night, and thanks to the rubber training eggs have got the hang of laying in the nest boxes, of if not then at least near to them in the coop.

They're also sleeping in the nest boxes, though, rather than roosting on the perches. The perches aren't any higher than the next boxes, so it's not that they can't get to them, they just prefer to snuggle down in the straw together and keep warm.

They look really cosy when they settle down for the night, and part of me thinks I shouldn't worry about it and just be grateful they've come so far so quickly. On the other hand, when we go away for a week I can't expect my friends to clean out handfuls of pooh every morning.

So do I close off the nest boxes at night until they get the hang of roosting on the perches? It seems a bit mean.....

[Tracey]

Hello Hashette

My chooks also lay their eggs where they sleep and have never used their perches, even though they're higher than their nest box. I have the same problem about holidays. I know my friends would collect the eggs each day, but I feel uncomfortable about asking them to clear up their poo aswell. We need the help of a 'Chook Whisperer'.

Tracey

[frias]

Hi, all of my 6 ex-batts still sleep cuddled up together on the floor. I have had them 6 months and have tried going out at night and lifting them onto the perch. I now just shut the nest boxes off before they go to bed and remove the barrier once they are settled. This at least keeps the nest box clean for the eggs. Funny thing is if I'm cleaning the coop at least one of them will come to see what I'm doing so I pop that one on the perch to watch me. They are quite happy sitting on it then.(for a few minutes) My OH is going to build a perch for the run and hang treats above it so they have to use the perch to get them. Hopefully they might get used to using one. Holidays are a worry. We have forgone out autumn hol because of the girls but have been invited to New Zealand next year which will mean we are away a long time.

[MaureenHall]

When I build my new chook house, I'm going to put a removable partition in so they can't sleep in the nest boxes. Some of mine still insist on sleeping in there and yes, it gets really pooey. Not a nice job to do especially on these cold horrible mornings

[Suechooks]

Ex-bats have littlr or no balance due to lack of feathers and clipped wings. I encouraged mine to roost off the floor by putting a tyre in the hut which they can roost on. This gives them the idea of getting off the ground and once their feathers and confidence have grown they will usually venture on to the perches. Sometimes the lower order hens may carry on going in the nest boxes as they may be getting bullied and pushed off. It also confines the poo to a small area! tyres are freely available from most garages as they have to pay to dispose of them so are usually happy to give them away. They also make good toys in the run and are excellent containers for growing early potatoes!

[Hilary B]

Ex-bats have littlr or no balance due to lack of feathers and clipped wings. I encouraged mine to roost off the floor by putting a tyre in the hut which they can roost on. This gives them the idea of getting off the ground and once their feathers and confidence have grown they will usually venture on to the perches. Sometimes the lower order hens may carry on going in the nest boxes as they may be getting bullied and pushed off. It also confines the poo to a small area! tyres are freely available from most garages as they have to pay to dispose of them so are usually happy to give them away. They also make good toys in the run and are excellent containers for growing early potatoes!

Last time I had anything to do with such a situation (8-9 years ago now) garages weren't supposed to let anyone take tyres away unless it was a licenced disposal person (but you can take away your own old tyres when they put new ones on your car). Lots of them DO turn a blind eye to people 'stealing' old tyres, but strictly speaking, they should not allow it. At the time, we kept cattle and the tyres were handy as weights for the silage pit......

[Hashette]

Thanks all. I think having read what everyone wrote I'll just accept what my chooks want and clear out the pooh.

I let them out of the run for the first time today and was so pleased with the results - they wandered around the garden pecking at anything and everything, wandered back home to have a drink and a top up of growers' mash (????), wandered out again, then when I stopped lurking at the window and went into the garden, they all followed me back into the run. How fab is that for three weeks out of the battery farm?

[Snadger]

I have lots of roosting bars in my run. The chooks love to sit in the sunshine and prene themselves as the soil can get a bit 'claggy' on the bottom
I have two perches in the chook house, one about two foot high and the other (which I just fitted today) about for foot high.
The old chooks who used to roost on the lower rail have now moved to the top rail and the new chooks 16 weeks old now roost on the bottom rail.

I think if you get them used to roosting in the run during the day you will have more chance of them roosting in the coop at night!

Also your roosting bar needs to be higher than the nesting boxes!

[frias]

I think if you get them used to roosting in the run during the day you will have more chance of them roosting in the coop at night!

Also your roosting bar needs to be higher than the nesting boxes!

My bars are higher than the nest boxes but I think you are right about roosting in the run in the day. Now if the rain would just stop OH might get this project done.

[Hashette]

Great idea, thanks. I did notice that their feet were looking grubby. One more project for hubby when his back's better - there's quite a list building up

[dozey1]

Hashette, so pleased your girls are fine, you must be really proud that they have come on a long way. I am going to get some more in spring. My girls followed me yesterday while i digging up their run to renew it a bit. They moved so quick when they saw the worms...:-)

[Suechooks]

Last time I had anything to do with such a situation (8-9 years ago now) garages weren't supposed to let anyone take tyres away unless it was a licenced disposal person (but you can take away your own old tyres when they put new ones on your car). Lots of them DO turn a blind eye to people 'stealing' old tyres, but strictly speaking, they should not allow it. At the time, we kept cattle and the tyres were handy as weights for the silage pit......

I think the law must have changed as several people I know have been to garages and asked for tyres and been given as many as they want. In fact one guy delivered loads for the allotment holders to use as containers etc as well as keeping tarpaulins in place etc.

[angelat]

sleeping in nesting boxes

hi,

I have had my girls 6 weeks now and they have always slept in the nesting boxes, they do poo in there but i just clean them out in the mornings, before they go back in to lay eggs. if i do it early enough it is clean for them if they go back later in the morning to lay. they do look so cosy and seem quite happy. might put a roosting perch in their run though, good idea, when ground is wet.