The only issue with the new coop has been the nesting boxes. We added a shelf with some crates, but the girls really never took to them (see the nesting boxes here). Instead, they lay in the old small coop or in what we call the hay room. Recently, Isis has even taken to laying her beautiful green eggs on top of the keet brooder where they are nearly impossible to reach!
A few weeks ago, my aunt told me about some old metal nesting boxes she and my uncle had at their farm and asked if we could use them. I was excited to check them out, so over the weekend I went to see if they might work for what we need.
I had the choice between one with open square boxes, or one with rounded entrances to the boxes. I thought the round one was so cute so I happily took it off their hands in exchange for four dozen eggs.
These nesting boxes have been unused for many years, so I gave them a good cleaning and washing when I got home to prepare them for the coop. Sylvester couldn't resist the urge to check them out.
We placed the nesting boxes on top of the existing shelf in the coop and it was a perfect fit! A few screws to mount it in place and they were good to go. I added pine shavings in each box, golf balls to show the chickens this is where they need to lay their eggs, and some marigold blooms to hopefully coax the girls to check out the boxes.
There was a lot of activity in the boxes yesterday, but no eggs laid in them yet. Chickens can sometimes be stubborn when presented with changes to their daily routines. Soon enough I'm sure they will come to love their new nesting boxes.
Too bad we don't get eggs from Sylvester! I swear, he must have been a chicken in a former life.
Do you have any tricks to get your girls to lay their eggs where you want them to?
~Tammy
Shared with Clever Chicks Blog Hop, Backyard Farming Connection, Country Homemaker Hop, Farmgirl Friday, Farm Girl Blog Fest, Farmhouse Style Blog Hop, Down Home Blog Hop
These are very CUTE, indeed! I love the look of the circle ones you chose. I am sure that in a short time, your ladies will be laying you some delicious treasures in them.
ReplyDeleteSonja ♥
What a neat old box! Sylvester is great! I had a barn cat that had her kittens in one nest box, and the hens would sit on them and keep them warm!! The best way to get them to lay in the big girl boxes is to deny access to the old place they used to lay. That is what works for me. Keep them confined to that area at least for a day or two,. They will want to move in. They want it to be dark and quite and warm. Curtains, sometimes help, but these look like they are pretty private. Have they been mounted too high from the ground? They look like the can get in easy. I bet they will be laying in there soon. Bit try to make the old places less desirable or unaccessible.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Susie
You can't beat free! Hope they take to them soon!
ReplyDeleteSylvester is cracking me up! What a character! I took your advice and bought some crumbles for Roo. :)
ReplyDeleteFarmhouse hugs,
Cindy
What amazing pictures :)
ReplyDeleteBTW thank you so much for your kind comment on my blog this morning. May I become your newest follower?
Beautiful nesting boxes! You're so lucky. I re-purposed a funky mid-century modern nightstand into a nesting box in our main coop. The ladies definitely prefer that one to the "standard" one I made out of plywood.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
So nice you received what you needed.. That cat is funny.. We honestly had a bunny once who thought he was a chicken.. grin..
ReplyDeleteHave a great week...
I have heard about using the golf balls. I hope it works!
ReplyDeleteyour kitty made me laugh. :) good luck to your layers!
ReplyDeleteI love this and your pictures.. I felt like I was there. I Love that the Cat is loving things too and the chickens dont seem to mind... YOU brought me to the country ...OMGOSH thank you !!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSylvester will how them how. They will love those boxes once they get used to them. B
ReplyDeleteThey really know of style! I like those with the circles, in no time they are going to get used to them!
ReplyDeleteHow nice your chickens get a stylish place to live, they will surely move in soon.
ReplyDeleteVery cute; especially Sylvester!
ReplyDeleteLove how it all comes together...Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWe have several of these old boxes my hubs picked up at an auction. Best nesting boxes ever in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAs far as getting them to lay in the boxes... maybe blow out a couple of eggs and place them in one -- they all seem to want to use the same box, no matter how many are available. :)
Love the new nesting boxes! The golf balls are a good idea and maybe you can block off their old "spot" until they get the hang of the new one. Your cat cracks me up! :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE the new nesting boxes- the round metal ones are so cool! Hopefully your flock will learn soon enough to lay there eggs there. And yes, chickens are SO stubborn when it comes to changes in their routine!
ReplyDeleteThe nesting boxes are great, the circles are perfect for having their own space and being comfy and you still being able to see them!
ReplyDeleteWe found that keeping them cooped for a day or two so that they didn't have alot of options for laying worked pretty well, but we have so few hens it wasn't a huge issue...
ReplyDeleteLove this! Now they will be cozy warm in there!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and fantastic photos ~ always love your chickens ~ yet your cat steals the show ~ so cute ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^
ReplyDeleteEnjoying reading your blog!! Especially about the chickens!! I want a couple, but have to talk the husband into it!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent! The girls look very happy!
ReplyDeleteLove those boxes. Ours won't lay where they're supposed to now either!
ReplyDeleteI know absolutely nothing about making chickens lay eggs where you want them,but this is a very cute, cozy home! Maybe just a little time to settle in...?
ReplyDeleteSylvester is not about to be out-done by a chicken. Hope they learn to like their new digs.
ReplyDeleteI'll admit, I don't know the first thing about chickens, but that looks like a nice place for them to lay their eggs!
ReplyDeleteWe have the square metal laying boxes in the left picture. Our hens took to them although I did put a egg gourd in one of the boxes for a few days. Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteI love the round holes! How different.
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat post, I learn something new about chickens. They like to golf. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen round holes in a nesting box, you're right they do look really cute! I also adore Sylvester's little white toes, beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post love Chickens and that nesting box is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHope they get on laying very soon.
Sheila
x
Love those nesting boxes and Sylvester is too funny, great pictures!
ReplyDeleteOne can always use an extra shed, I know we could! and those nesting boxes are awesome, they did come in handy. My hubby has been wanting to get some guineas but I'm not sure I can handle their "squalking" sounds...
ReplyDeleteTammy ~ I love your nesting boxes! That is so neat that you found them within the family and were able to give them purpose again! It's finds like these, that make me want to go to auctions this summer.
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