Where do your chickens sleep?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Shelley Esson on March 13, 2011 at 8:26pm

Just out of curiosity, what is the problem with them sleeping in the nesting box?  Mine do sometimes, sometimes not.  I know if it's particularly cold they seem to be able to huddle closer in the box than on a roosting perch.  That might be particularly true if they are pullets; not quite fattened up and feathered out?  Just a thought...

Permalink Reply by Michele Senitzer on March 14, 2011 at 1:28pm

Hi Shelley,

Well, it's a mess in there. Between the poop and the moisture it's gross. I'd like to remove clean eggs. At this rate I'm going to have to swap out the boxes.I just don't know how to stop this behavior.

Shelley Esson said:

Just out of curiosity, what is the problem with them sleeping in the nesting box?  Mine do sometimes, sometimes not.  I know if it's particularly cold they seem to be able to huddle closer in the box than on a roosting perch.  That might be particularly true if they are pullets; not quite fattened up and feathered out?  Just a thought...

Permalink Reply by Shelley Esson on March 14, 2011 at 1:40pm

That is completely understandable.  I guess I am so used to poo (small child, puppy) that it doesn't phase me to clean out the nesting box daily. I just feel that there is no such thing as a clean egg until you wash it (which I never do until just before I use it).  I enjoy giving unwashed egg sas gifts.  There is a certain amount of satisfaction in letting people know that as long as they leave the natural protective coat on the egg, that they can keep them unrefridgerated for at least a couple of months.  People are amazed!

 

You might want to try separating the boxes from the roosting area so the girls don't have access to them at night, or even pulling them out of the coop before locking up for the pm.  That will eliminate them from sleeping in there and keep them cleaner.  Without knowing your coop situation, that would be my suggestion.  Please do keep us posted!

Permalink Reply by Michele Senitzer on March 15, 2011 at 12:33pm

I thought the same thing, block the nest boxes off at night. Well that got some territory flusters and resulted in pecked eggs the next day. A really bad habit I don't want started. So much of this trial and error. My biggest question now is will one next box be enough for 3 chickens? If I restructure the coop to have the 2 tiers of perches there will only be room for 1 box. That or suck it up and clean out the boxes... I will say though that even with all this going on, I love the ladies and even this troubleshooting. It's all well worth it.

 

Thanks Shelley. I'm curious by the way, how many chickens do you keep, and what kinds are they etc. ? Can we see some pics?  What can you tell us about your experience keeping chickens?

Permalink Reply by Shelley Esson on March 15, 2011 at 4:10pm

Hi, Michele.  I started with three chickens - a buff cochin, and auricana and a lakenvelder.  The cochin, Polly, turned out to be a Paulie and so had to go.  Lena, my lakenvelder got snagged by a racoon just a couple of months ago so right now I just have Lucy.  She is a delight, and I can say that I like my chicken better than I like my dog.  I have three barnevelder chicks coming by post in the first week of May and we are very excited to have a flock again.

 

Lucy likes to come in the house if I am not careful and leave the door to my office open.  I have found her perched on my bed occasionally.  She is very sweet of temperament and likes to be petted and picked up.  I was very hands on with all my birds.  I can't imagine them ever pecking their eggs, but who knows what the dynamics of three new birds will bring?

 

The biggest challenge has been housing them.  We are a typical SF house with no access to the back yard except through the house, so I couldn't get anything prebuilt as nothing would fit through interior doors.  I bought a prefab coop but the quality is poor so I think we'll try designing and building our own when the new chicks are ready to go outdoors.  Also, it took a while to find a pet store that would order organic feed for me.  I was driving up to Petaluma every couple of weeks the first couple of months.  Now I just call up Sunset Pet Supply and they order whatever I need.

 

I am sure one box will be enough for 3.  I use an old wine crate, so two could fit at the same time.  How long have you had your girls, and what neighborhood do you live in?  I'll try getting some pics together.  My office is a bit of a shambles at the moment.

 

Nice chatting!

Shelley

Permalink Reply by Michele Senitzer on March 18, 2011 at 9:08am

Hi Shelley,

 

Keeping chickens sure does give you tales to tell. The girls are so clowny and such a delight. I'd be interested in seeing pics of your coop as well when you have a chance. I'll post some of mine too. I built it with recycled wood and learned a lot in the process.

The dynamic definitely changes as new birds come into the picture. Ruby, the bottom of the pecking order in the last flock, made it very clear to the new pullets that she was top dog around here. Things have since leveled out a bit more...

Yesterday I boarded up one of the two nest boxes. I will see how the laying goes with one box, and how the sleeping arrangement goes. If the laying works out, then I will remove the double box put in a second perch instead. Plus I'll change the location of the nest box. Hopefully this will take care of the sleeping versus laying situation.

pics to come!

 

Michele

 

ps. I'm in East Oakland near Mills College.

Permalink Reply by Francesca Austin on April 9, 2011 at 9:03am

If your coop is completely enclosed in wire top bottom sides, they can sleep wherever they want - some chickens roost in trees at night if there is a tree available.  If the coop is not enclosed, beware of predators.  Just throw them in, they will get used to it.  You have to clean out the laying boxes frequently and often hens will just want to lay in one box - collect eggs fast so they don't break them.  If they are doing that they are probably bored - give them some pine branches to play with - pine needles are each like a vitamin c pill for a hen.  Any kind of edible branch is good as long as it has not been sprayed.

Permalink Reply by Michele Senitzer on April 9, 2011 at 11:09am

Here's my coop. I built it all with reclaimed wood. At the bottom is an enclosed run.

 

When the hens were sleeping in the nest boxes they were located where the 2nd perch is now. I forgot to take a pic before I refabbed it but basically I pulled out the box, installed another perch and hung a new and larger single nest box. Now the new girls have their space, without territory issues on the perches and I'm back to clean delicious eggs. Under the perches are 2 poop trays that can be removed easily for cleaning. Their food and water is below on the first floor.

 

oh yea and how 'bout this style-y auto door my friend built from a auto lawn sprinkler controller?

Ba gonk!

Permalink Reply by Kim Di Giacomo on April 9, 2011 at 11:25am

Michele, I love how you captured the "girls" and their eggs in your coop photos.  They are the true stars of your homestead!

Permalink Reply by Francesca Austin on April 9, 2011 at 11:42am

Looks really good - love the door.  I had to pay to get mine constructed due to lack of time, etc.  I was waiting 2 years for myself to build and it is just was not happening! 

 

I am looking into a solar light which would work on a timer - if I can't find one I will have to run electric to the coop which might cost me some money - my hard has an irrigation system not in use but the yard is downslope from the house and not close enough for my outside outlet to be used easily without running a ton of wires.  I wonder if a solar light would run an auto-door? 

Permalink Reply by Michele Senitzer on April 13, 2011 at 3:16pm

Yea adding the 2nd perch and changing the location of the nest box did the trick. I'm back to clean eggs and the girls have no more territory issues for sleeping.