Pullets and Nesting Boxes

[Wrigley62]

Good morning, I haven't been on here in quite some time. I hope you all, as well as your flocks, are doing well.
My question is, why are you supposed to keep the pullets out of the nesting boxes until it's time for them to start laying? Maybe you don't, I've just been told that I should block of the boxes until just before the start to lay. Mine are 9 weeks old.
What are your thoughts, suggestions, experiences and so-forth??

Thank you so much.

Wrigley

 

[kegs]

I hadn't heard that but I assume it's to stop them from sleeping and messing in the nest box as if they get used to sleeping in there it will be harder later on to get them to use the perches.

 

[chrismahon]

Exactly as Kegs says Wrigley. But if they are not going in there anyway you don't need to block them off.

Nice tall coop that Wrigley. We've got a couple of fixed ones you can stand in and it makes a big difference. Good idea deflecting the rainwater away from the nestbox cover. Makes collecting the eggs that much easier. One of the problems we have as in heavy rain the water runs off the roof and into the nest box when you remove the lid. A compromise had to be made when ours were designed -keeping weight down causes a few problems.

 

[Wrigley62]

Thanks Chris, those crazy birds love the nesting boxes, I'll block them off tonight.
The coop is ok, it's too small for the hens I have, so, I have to build an additions on the other side. It will be 4x4x8 horizontal. This past weekend I did put a rain gutter and barrel on.
I do love your coops (chrismahon)!!
I'm wondering, should I put in vents? I have windows on three sides.

 

[chrismahon]

Vents are very important if your windows don't open. We have them front and back to get a through draught and regulate that with the sliding shutters. Without ventillation they get chest infections. Important you don't get a draught acroos the perches, you just need good airchange. Ours are meshed to keep rats and other predators out.

The blue one I've just reconditioned started as a rotten 10 x 8 shed. I dismantled it and used the best timber.
Building six little 6 chicken ones to take to France next.

 

[tygrysek75]

Simple ruber strips will put them off nest boxes for now and you can put them on perches in the evening.I remember that mine in this age liked to cuddle together in 1 nest box.I had trained them in 1 day exept 1 stupid cocrell who stayed on the floor under perches.I had sorted him out by putting newpapers down one day and he went on the perch straight away,You see the chickens hate any change to their enviroment and keep to the things they know.
I had try blocking nest boxes with other stuf but they still have benn piling on top of the things.Rubber works wonders and by the time they came in to lay they get used to it and have been using nest boxes without the fail.Never got shit on the eggs either.In the beginning strips were longer to prevent them comming inn after a while I shortened them to make esier for them to get inn

 

[Wrigley62]

Good morning,

Chris, my windows do open, but, in the winter I don't think I'm going to want them open. I don't know what kind of winters you have over there, but, we can get some pretty harsh ones here. I do have a pair of register floor vent that I was thinking of putting up near the roof. What are your thoughts?

Ty, That's a great idea for the nesting boxes. I have eleven, nine week olds and four nesting boxes, last night there were five in one of the boxes and six in the other. I cracks me up that they cram themselves in there. I guess they do it to stay warm. Our night time temps are in the mid 50"s F. It's either that or they really dig each other.

I'll try to post some inside pic of the coop and my run. This is my first year with chickens and i'm open for suggestions from seasoned........Chicken People

Keep the pictures coming, like I said, I have to build and addition to my current coop and I'll take all the help I can get.

Take care guys>

Talk to you later,
Wrigley

 

[chrismahon]

Our winters are moderately cold. Down to -5 degrees centigrade at night normally and 2 degrees during the day but we had a bad year 2009-2010 where it went to -18 degrees at night and -10 during the day for two weeks. I did shut the vents completely then and got terrible condensation. It collected on the dividing walls in one fixed coop and turned the plywood black. No problems on the timber clad walls as they 'breathe' but we had a few chest problems. One cockerel was so bad he lost his voice for two weeks and had to come inside in a cage -double antibiotic dosage to pull him round. So I would have something permanently open Wrigley, even if it is quite small.

 

[tygrysek75]

If you like to see more pictures from my cop this is the link http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4240 it is not perfect and I had kept changing thing but really works for me and house now 9 chickens

 

[Wrigley62]

Well, I did it. I closed off the nesting boxes, and they are PISSED OFF!! It's like they have to start all over on who sits where.
Now that I've done that, when do I open them back up for business?
Also, I've been noticing that they all go in the coop (in the evening) around the same time (7 PM-ish). Is it a lack of daylight thing or an internal clock? Or both?
I am having such a good time spending time with them.

Wrigley

 

[Marigold]

They always go to roost at sunset, whenever this is. As the summer solstice approaches they will go to bed later and get up earlier, until the days begin to shorten again, and by mid-December they will be roosting between about 4pm and 7-30, - a long night without food in the cold, so then it's important to make sure they go to bed with full crops, maybe some extra corn or warm mash for tea to keep them going for 15 hours. In the short hot summer nights it's good if they can get up at dawn, about 5am or earlier, rather than getting hot and restless in the coop. So if your run is safe it's good to leave the pophole permanently open so they can come and go as they need. Or get up with the lark yourself!

 

[Wrigley62]

Thanks Marigold, as of now, I do get up a 5 AM, It's only been for a week and during the week I'm up at 5 anyways, but, the weekends I really don't mind staying in bed till about 6:30 or 7 so I think I'm going to have to look into an automatic door or something. My run is open at the top. I did weave fishing line across the top to keep the Hawks and other predatory birds out. The bottom of the chicken wire is buried about a foot out. I'm just worried about something crawling over the fence. So, I guess for now I'll just keep on getting up at 4:30-5:00.......Anything for the "Girls" 07