can bad habits be broke?

Giffen Farms · Post by **Giffen Farms** » Tue May 03, 2016 9:40 pm

Is there a way to stop a hen from

in in the nest that doesn't involve getting rid if them? My wyandotte pullets have started laying and don't want them to pickup these bad habits from the older hens. Not sure why the picture is upside-down, a daily job of scraping

[attachment=0]2016-05-03 07.44.58.jpg[/attachment]

Silkie Sue · Post by **Silkie Sue** » Tue May 03, 2016 10:03 pm

that's a tough one, i've never really thought about that before, when i see poo in the nest i just clean it out. are they broody?

Jaye · Post by **Jaye** » Tue May 03, 2016 10:21 pm

Very good question, Silkie Sue.
If they aren't broody, what about location of nest boxes? Are they sleeping in them?
I don't get that amount of poo in or around nest boxes, just the occasional Oopsy. Seems there may be something else going on there ...

ross · Post by **ross** » Tue May 03, 2016 10:59 pm

Is that a landing board in front of the nests . If it is it looks like there sitting there then inside as well to roost .
Try putting in a different style nest boxes . Can you take a pic standing back a ways & at level with boxes . Hard to tell in that pic .
OC has some neat ones . Luck

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Tue May 03, 2016 11:58 pm

My guess is that some hens are sleeping in the boxes, usually happens when there is bullying amongst different age birds, another possibility, not enough floor and roost space.
Just a question of taking a bit of time and observing the hens behavior.

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Wed May 04, 2016 12:08 am

I agree, I think they are sleeping in the boxes, put the boxes lower and a roost up a little higher to encourage them to use that.

Giffen Farms · Post by **Giffen Farms** » Wed May 04, 2016 10:46 pm

ross wrote:QR_BBPOST Is that a landing board in front of the nests . If it is it looks like there sitting there then inside as well to roost .
Try putting in a different style nest boxes . Can you take a pic standing back a ways & at level with boxes . Hard to tell in that pic .
OC has some neat ones . Luck

Yes there is as they try to jump into the top nest from the bottom perch, (in between the perch and nest), I'm a tall guy 6'6" so all if my pictures are hard to look at

ross · Post by **ross** » Wed May 04, 2016 10:52 pm

As suggested I'd change nesting box style .

Colleen Kinzie · Post by **Colleen Kinzie** » Thu May 05, 2016 8:53 am

If your nest boxes are the type with perches I had the same problem
I went down each night and flipped up perches so they could not nest. then after dark went in and put perches back down
Problem solved
Took about 1 week

Giffen Farms · Post by **Giffen Farms** » Thu May 05, 2016 9:26 pm

Colleen Kinzie wrote:QR_BBPOST If your nest boxes are the type with perches I had the same problem
I went down each night and flipped up perches so they could not nest. then after dark went in and put perches back down
Problem solved
Took about 1 week

Yes the are, I'll give that a shot, the older hens are on the perch/in the nests while the younger hens are on the floor.

: Nest position, wyandottes