have recently paired my birds up and have noticed a few havent went into the breeding boxes at all, but are laying eggs. they are just cracking, as the breeding cabinets are made from the flight cages.

Any reason why they arent going into the boxes and laying the eggs?

have recently paired my birds up and have noticed a few havent went into the breeding boxes at all, but are laying eggs. they are just cracking, as the breeding cabinets are made from the flight cages.

Any reason why they arent going into the boxes and laying the eggs?

Can you post a picture of your set up and that will help us to advise you ? One hen doing it here and there can happen but if a few are there is a problem with something in your set up.

Edited November 26, 200816 yr by KAZ

Did you fix the problem with the slanting boxes? That would possibly put them off

have recently paired my birds up and have noticed a few havent went into the breeding boxes at all, but are laying eggs. they are just cracking, as the breeding cabinets are made from the flight cages.Any reason why they arent going into the boxes and laying the eggs?

Can you post a picture of your set up and that will help us to advise you ? One hen doing it here and there can happen but if a few are there is a problem with something in your set up.

Kaz, sorry should have read the post before i posted it.the birds arent going into the boxes. they hang of the side of the flight cages.One hen today i noticed had dropped her egg on the floor, and a few days ago i noticed another had done the same, but that hen has been laying eggs in the box before this egg on the floor.

Did you fix the problem with the slanting boxes? That would possibly put them off

Yes i did fix the issue with the slanting issue. Went and got the wood and stuck that at the bottom of the boxes so it made them level. did the job.Was thinking of putting wood shavings in the boxes. what do you think, or just best to leave them plain?

Check boxes for signs of something going through...bugs, cockroaches and mice for instance...anything that will stop a hen being happy to stay in there and lay.

Are the boxes set high or low ?

Edited November 26, 200816 yr by KAZ

Check boxes for signs of something going through...bugs, cockroaches and mice for instance...anything that will stop a hen being happy to stay in there and lay.

Are the boxes set high or low ?

 

 

they are lowish, as they are hanging off the side of the flight cages.

ie got the extra large flight cages with the separators, and with the large cages the have the doors on the side of the cage. the boxes are as high as possible, but still so that the hole is below the top of the door for easy access into the box.

is it worth catching the hen and putting her in the box.

they are all young birds, and are there first round.

How old are the hens ? and are you checking them a lot to make them insecure ?

Kaz,

 

do you think i would be better to cut the wire up in the corners of the cabinets and hang the boxes so they are up higher for the birds? Will this help, do they prefer the boxes to be up higher?

If you have a spare cage try taking the side of it ( the side that the box hangs) and turn that panel upside down that way the hole is higher up .....

 

How is the lighting where they are ?

Put shavings in and when she goes in there she would more likely to remove them .. The you know they are interested

they do seem very edgy when i go in there of a night time.i am doing things around them with the setup which could be disturbing them.all shall be finished by the weekend, and then i can go in there for the next two weeks and see how that goes, by only going in there every 2 days.all hens are 07

If you have a spare cage try taking the side of it ( the side that the box hangs) and turn that panel upside down that way the hole is higher up .....How is the lighting where they are ?Put shavings in and when she goes in there she would more likely to remove them .. The you know they are interested

they get a full day of light. it is open to sunlight.the sun doesnt shine on the breeding area but allows plenty of light in there section.i think if i change the side cage pieces that could do the trick.i shall try doing that tomorrow morning and see how it looks.Does anyone have pictures of how there boxes hang, if they hang there boxes off the side of the cages.

If you look at the breeding section there and you will see a few setups most breeders use the cage set up

If you are referring to the divided cages the same as mine and you have your boxes on the side then from recollection that door is almost central so turning panels around probably won't make any difference

If you are referring to the divided cages the same as mine and you have your boxes on the side then from recollection that door is almost central so turning panels around probably won't make any difference

 

 

i think you might be correct. it was to dark to go outside and have a look.

that is why i thinking if i cut the wire in the corners and hang then from the very top corner, will this make any difference.

where do you hang your boxes from?

My boxes are quite low and I've not yet had any laying off the perch, I hang them either off that door or off one of the front door which are slightly lower again.

do you put anything inside your boxes, like wood shavings?

I wait until eggs are layed and then I use rolled oats until the chicks are a few weeks old and then I use budgie seed.

My boxes are quite low and I've not yet had any laying off the perch, I hang them either off that door or off one of the front door which are slightly lower again.

forgot to let you know was at bunnings and in the wood section they have ply wood that would be the right side to use as dividers. its is long and they can cut it to size for you fre of charge. it was only about $8 i think from memory for the sheet that would do a few dividers.

I wait until eggs are layed and then I use rolled oats until the chicks are a few weeks old and then I use budgie seed.

is that so they have some feed in the box?

I do have a few sheets here that would probably be that size, I just don't have the space yet for that many chicks so I'm resisting the urge this year

 

The oats are just nice and soft and cosy and not so rough as shavings, the seed encourages them to start eating when they get older, in both cases it also gives the hen something to pick at, I like to tell myself it reduces the chances of them plucking. :rofl:

Edited November 26, 200816 yr by melbournebudgies

I do have a few sheets here that would probably be that size, I just don't have the space yet for that many chicks so I'm resisting the urge this year :rofl:

 

The oats are just nice and soft and cosy and not so rough as shavings, the seed encourages them to start eating when they get older

 

 

theres no time like the present!

No you can't say that :rofl: I'm planning to move house in the first half of the year so I'm not allowed to set up any more aviaries until after we move

Kaz, do you think i would be better to cut the wire up in the corners of the cabinets and hang the boxes so they are up higher for the birds? Will this help, do they prefer the boxes to be up higher?

Yes...they do prefer higher boxes :question:

they do seem very edgy when i go in there of a night time.i am doing things around them with the setup which could be disturbing them.all shall be finished by the weekend,

The key is that you are disturbing them at night. Hens nesting.... once in the nestbox need to stay in there especially bedding down for the night time. Perhaps those nesting should be left out of the disturbances. If the hens are getting out of the nest at a time when they are trying to egglay, but they get out because of what you are doing in and around them, then they will stay out and lay their egg off the perch.

I agree with Kaz, in the absence of reasons such as mice, etc I would say this is your problem.

I agree with Kaz, in the absence of reasons such as mice, etc I would say this is your problem.

 

 

there are no mice as they cant get it.

The premises is kept very clean.

The point was night time disturbances not mice. When birds are settling in for the night your work in there is driving them off the nest and a hen about to lay then sits on the perch for the night instead of staying in her nestbox

The point was night time disturbances not mice. When birds are settling in for the night your work in there is driving them off the nest and a hen about to lay then sits on the perch for the night instead of staying in her nestbox

 

I have had this happen too - Also happens with first time hens - they don't realise they are going to lay until its too late