The first nest boxes we tried were stackable platic crates with holes in the sides.
The chickens hated them. Wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole.
We heard that a cat litter box with a top worked well, and they do love that. But they are neither cheap nor stackable. Well, one is cheap. Six or eight are not.
So my husband installed a 6-holer that he built from scrap wood.
They use it grudgingly. Their two favorite spots are still a) between the 6-holer and the wall on the right, and b) the cat litter box.
The 6-holer has a preferred seating arrangement. Bottom row is best overall, and first choice is always bottom right. (We placed golf balls in all the nest spots, to convince them that it's ok to lay an egg there, but most days they're not buying it.)
1: Lakenvelder arrives to find all the good nest boxes already taken.
2: I like your spot so much better than mine.
3: Lakenvelder leaves? No. Look closely at the bottom right. A Buff Orpington is already in the plum spot, but that does not deter Ms. Lakenvelder. She decides to lay her egg ON TOP OF the other chicken.
4: Oh wait, maybe it's better over there.
Ha! Hysterical photos. I've wanted to raise chickens. But I'm a weekender in CT, and I work during the week in NYC. I'd have to start my own business and move up there full-time! I don't know what's stopping me... Anyway, we have lots of hawks who love chickens, and I'm sure I'd be more of a mother hen to the chickens than their own moms, which would put me over the edge! Thanks for the fun photos. NoIvory
ReplyDeleteWhat a hoot, er, cluck!
ReplyDeleteOlivia got Lakenvelder chicks, looks like she will have some pretty hens when they grow up.
That's a great documentary! Very funny. You definitely captured their crazy behavior.
ReplyDeleteWent to the camera store yesterday-- but they didn't have the Canon digital rebel. The salesperson tried to sell me a film camera, extolling its superior quality photos. Next stop-- the mall.
Priceless photos. Wonderful.
ReplyDeletehey listen, you can do some seriously cool art with those images. they look like Joseph Cornell boxes or something. they look musical, like notes, and beats, and syncopation. Imagine an entire wall covered with large reproductions of that. It is really not hard to imagine seeing them at the next Whitney Biennial. Large output is your only challenge.
ReplyDeleteI think I have to agree with Charles.
ReplyDeleteThose are super pictures.
How very typically chicken. Aren't they fun?
ReplyDeleteHilarious pix. Love the commentary. Thanks for the laugh.
ReplyDeleteYou do have funny chickens...I love your posts about them!
ReplyDeleteHow long did they avoid the plastic crates?
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments. Chickens are so much fun. Never a dull moment!
ReplyDeleteYes Shannon the top is very slanted so that they can't land there... We were warned about that.
Charles, you are too kind. I had to go look up Cornell - very cool.
DPR, the thing doesn't have a back since it is really designed to be attached to the wall of the coop. But it ended up on the floor for various reasons. There is a little space between the back and the wall - just enough for a Lakenvelder's head!
Maktaaq, we were dogged in our persistance with the crates... we just took them out a couple of weeks ago. All the chickens wanted to do was poop on them.
Jojo, I have heard that some people use the milk crates with no problem. Maybe it's just the breed of chicken? Ours also liked laying on bales of hay and in half-full bags of wood chips.
Don't know about the Puccini but it probably can't hurt! We don't have electricity in the coop so the only music ours get is when I sing to them. I can't even carry a tune, but they don't seem to mind.
Those pictures really had me laughing.....boy can I relate! And your nestbox situation is very Brady Bunch. :)
ReplyDeleteMy hens are so funny about the nestboxes. There are plenty for everyone, but whichever nest is used first thing each morning becomes THE Nest for the rest of the day; all the hens piling in one after (or on top of) another.
-Sarah
http://www.slaphog.com/sarahblog/
Sarah you are so right! Brady Bunch all the way - why didn't I think of that?
ReplyDeleteYep sometimes ours will wait in line to lay in a particular box.
>> Charles, you are too kind.
ReplyDeletejust the facts, ma'am
What funny photos...do they mind you taking their pictures? This looks like "Hollywood Squares - the Poultry Version". I'm so enjoying your photos and narrative.
ReplyDeleteOh no, first Brady Bunch and now Hollywood Squares! How did I ever miss those two allusions? You'd think I hadn't wasted half my youth watching tv, which I most certainly did. :)
ReplyDeleteThey didn't seem to mind me taking the flash pictures, as long as I didn't get too close.
Ours are crazy too. Two nesting boxes for four Chickens but it may as well just be one. They all refuse to use one of them even though it is exactly the same as the other one. That's Chickens for you!
ReplyDelete