The two Welsummers sleep crammed together in one of the nesting boxes. When I lock up the coop at night I take them out and put them on the roost. By the amount of poop in the nest box in the morning it's obvious they got up and climbed back in it. Last night they each used a nest box. I clean the nest box they use every morning but isn't there some way to get them to use the roost all the time? None of the other girl's will use that box even though it's cleaned daily, all shaving removed and refilled. I've seen them standing on the roost during the day so I think they know it won't bite. Should I cover the nest boxes at night? I have a couple of EE's that lay very early in the morning, by 6:30 there is an egg or two so I don't want to throw them off schedule or freak them out with something strange covering the nest boxes.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Bunking in the nesting box.
No advice here. I just find all this chicken behavior interesting. So the two Welsummers that I figgure you got together stick together most of the time? Seems as if they are best friends for life and want to nest together.
How do you like the Welsummers? I have read they are mellow chickens and good layers.
My Serama sisters, Laura and Emily, always brood together...even though Emily is not as enthusiastic.
I put up a roost for my layers and most roost on it now, though it took some a while. A couple still squeeze onto the threshold of the coop...but none of them spend the night in the boxes...maybe yours will outgrow it as they mature?
I should say, my Welsummers were pretty broody.....
I sure hope they outgrow it, the box is messy and no one else wants to lay in it no matter how well sanitized it is. Now there are two messy boxes! The Welsummers are getting more and more friendly, eating from my hand now and can they ever run fast when they hear me calling or see me walking toward the fence!
Rita I didn't hand raise the Welsummers as day old chicks so they haven't been as friendly as the others - who are down right obnoxious about getting attention and treats LOL - but they've come a long way.
Even if there were no messy nest boxes I think you would find that the hens choose a favorite nest box or two and do most of their laying in them and shun the others. The favorites also can change from time to time.
I think that is true too, Porkpal. There are many times when 5 or 6 eggs are all in the same next box.