Chicken Nesting

[Stancoll]

Used to raise chickens. Somehow a peach pit ended up in a nest box. The next day we found a small egg, about the size of that peach pit. I had an inspiration--I put one of those Leggs eggs (maybe you remember those things from the '70s; they were about 4" or 5" long) in the nest box. Didn't work.

LOL. That's funny.

 

[reb]

I only have 8 hens, no rooster. I originally bought mine for the grand kids.
They are no more trouble than a dog, cat, etc,. I find them actually no trouble at all.

I have an auto watering system, 30 # auto feeder I fill every 3 weeks

My pen is totally fenced in with top covered for those owls and hawks. Probably 30'x30' with 10' top

I built a covered pen for chickens when I moved here, figuring to discourage hawks. I used standard chicken wire all around and over. One of the hens hatched about 14 eggs. Ravens would land on top and frighten the chickens. The chicks would get through the wire to hide in the grass surrounding the pen; there was no cover in the yard. The ravens got all the chicks.

After two or three years, snow gathering on the top eventually bent the poles supporting the pen. Some kind of solid top would have made more sense.

 

[Alan W.]

Well its chickens - 2 me - O. They have made this personal now.

For those thinking that chickens take a lot of time aint so. I fill the waterer and feeder once a week takes 5 minutes and get the eggs daily takes about 2 minutes. Would take half that ifn they would use the nest boxes. I spend more time takin care of the pooch course shes a bit spoilt.

 

[tomplum]

2 minutes a day? What about story time?! I enjoy chickens and would a whole lot more if it weren't for the predators. I built a cool enough coop with a big deck on it off the side of a hill . It's by my shop and many a nice night sit out on the deck under the stars. What I did wrong on this coop is built the nest box too high - just above the top roost so I have to block them from the box at night to keep it clean.

 

[kenmac]

well, I went to gather eggs today and one chicken decided to lay a robin size egg. Don't know what she's protesting about

 

[kenmac]

I built a covered pen for chickens when I moved here, figuring to discourage hawks. I used standard chicken wire all around and over. One of the hens hatched about 14 eggs. Ravens would land on top and frighten the chickens. The chicks would get through the wire to hide in the grass surrounding the pen; there was no cover in the yard. The ravens got all the chicks.

After two or three years, snow gathering on the top eventually bent the poles supporting the pen. Some kind of solid top would have made more sense.

My chickens can't escape. Framed up pen with 2x4's and 4x4 post. Wire is buried underground. chicken wire stapled to cover the top.

I was out today and saw a large hawk flying over the area. No way it's getting into that pen. My girls are safe

 

[cdaigle430]

I have 8 chickens and two ducks in the same coop I bought from Tractor Supply. I added a 4x4 frame with chicken wire underneath and added 4 inches of play sand from Home Depot. Then I added another layer of chicken wire to the outside along with the enclosed wire already included. For the winter I added insulation inside the coop area where the nesting boxes are. Then I added corrigated clear plastic sheeting all the way around and left some vents. Lastly i added a wireless camera, a heated waterier and a 250 watt heat lamp o a timer. Its been so cold lately I added straw to the bottom of the coop run and a thick layer of pine shavings in the next os but its done pretty well....so well that when I open the door for them to free range they dont want to leave LOL.
I alsi have a duck coop with a duck pond. Its made from a 10x10 dog kennel layered in chicken wire above and around. Also has a canvas rood for shade and some protection and a home built duck house. Its been so cold I keep them in with the chickens.
My nly concern is my smallest chicken is the lowest on the pecking order and she is pretty baron the neck...could be the ducks harassing her too. Drake is constantly trying to mate with her.
Thats my story I have to collect eggs more often-tired of getting cracked frozen eggs.

 

[om21braz]

Years ago most folks put a porcelain door knob in each nesting place. First time I was sent out to gather eggs I wondered what it was doing there LOL.

 

[kenmac]

It's must be something to it. I removed the golf ball from the large laying box I built, but left them in the bought laying boxes. The chickens stopped laying in that large box.

Reason I built a large box, was to make it easier for my larger Asian chickens to get in and lay.
Thing is, they all liked the larger box. so they all were laying in the larger box until I removed the golf ball
Guess I'm going to have to put that golf ball back in that box

 

[Alan W.]

Im going to try golf balls, door knobs or whatever. I think their playing dodgeball with the ceramic eggs. Im surprised that none are broke yet.