If you didn’t see it with your own eyes you wouldn’t believe it! I thought we needed to come up with a more permanent and weather proof nest box for the bantys than a cardboard box. I bought a plastic pet carrier, it didn’t cost much plus I had a money off voucher and it would be handy if we ever needed a vet visit so win win!
When Amber decided she needed a nest box this afternoon she got very agitated like she did a few days ago. She marched up and down the fence making a vocal protest and looking for a way out. She ignored the pet carrier. I thought the air holes were perhaps letting in too much light so I covered it with a cloth. She didn’t like the cloth and looked even more stressed.
I looked for an alternative and put in a small wooden log box with pine shavings in it. I sprinkled corn around it and a little in it to draw her to it. She ate the corn and put her head in the box to take the corn from inside then continued with her stressed march around and kept looking up to see if she could get out anywhere.
I gave in and retrieved the cardboard box from the dustbin. I taped it back together and returned to to the same spot as before. Amber went straight in and settled herself happily. I wouldn’t mind so much but like before she came out half an hour later without laying an egg and happily carried on with her day.
All that stress to get into the correct box which she must have imprinted on already and yet she didn’t even need to lay yet. She would have been willing to risk the big girls to get out to where she knows the bedtime nest box is or she would except her cardboard box and yet no other box was going to do.
My husband says he will replicate the cardboard box in wood but I wonder if that will please her. They are such funny little things. She has only been here a few days and yet already has such strong attachments!
Just before dusk we went in and opened the gate to the bantys area. Again they tried to get on the coop roof with the big girls but were getting a few pecks. I lifted the big girls down and put them in leaving the separated off nest box open. One of the bantys went straight in. The other went in and I went to close it but she flew out again. I closed itanyway as I was afraid the other one would come out and we would two to catch.
I decided to retreat for a bit and see if she would settle somewhere. When I went back she was on the coop roof. I tried to pick her up but she flew off. I opened the nest box to see if she would join her mate but she again went to the coop roof and the other one was getting agitated. I shut the nest box again as I couldn’t risk having two to catch. I had to catch her and put her in.
This isn’t ideal as it is stressful each evening for both them and me. Tomorrow we will try a different approach. We will put the big girls in then leave the nest box open and retreat until after dark to see if they will go in on their own. I am not sure if it will work but this bedtime routine is not good either. If we could establish a habit of them putting themselves to bed it would make things easier on them and us.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
That is so classic. They are SUCH creatures of habit. Sorry for your struggles. I totally feel your pain. But I can sooooo relate!
How do they form a habit so strongly and so quickly? It is pretty funny if only she didn’t get stressed about it but the bedtime routine is the most difficult bit at the moment. I don’t want to have to catch them every night because they will always see me as the big bad wolf but how can I get them to bed safely? I told my husband we now need a corridor between our new area and the coop and he just groaned! Oh well, onwards and upwards. I am sure it will come good in the end. Got to love these funny little girls though.
It is not until you observe chickens that you realise that they are not so “feathered brained” and teach us a thing or two .
I thought of your comment, two steps forward followed by one step back. They are determined little things and get attached to a habit so quickly. Richard says if he replicates the cardboard box in wood and she still doesn’t like it, then he is going to paint it blue and write “cheese and onion” on the side! Ha ha!
Could you get a little coop for their own area? I used a rabbit hutch for a while with our bantams … just added a couple of perches (which they didn’t use!).
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Then you wouldn’t have the stress … and could let them free range together for a short while at the end of the day. They’ll go to their own beds when it gets dark. Once they get used to each other, you can lengthen the time they are together. Eventually, they’ll take matters into their own ‘hands’ (!) and start visiting the other coop, perhaps even laying there. It won’t matter how long it takes.
It’s always useful to have a second coop, however small. They can be used for introductions, for nursing a sick hen, for a broody. HTH x
I have been thinking about this myself but the problem is lack of space. I am not sure if I can find something small enough to fir in their area as it;s long but narrow and the bush takes up a lot of room. I will go and have a look for something suitable today or my husband may be able to make something to fit.
I think a second coop will be a waste of money and time ! Remember this are farm animal not home pet ! Give them some perch for the night and they can sleep outside is summer nowand chicken are much stronger then you think, also if the big girls attached them during the day they have somewhere to fly on . Picking them up every evening will delay their trust of you and stress them too much ! After when the flock will adjust they will follow the big girl inside by themselves , nature have to follow their course and chicken in order to decide a peck order do peck each other , you need to intervene only if something real bad happen ( bloods ) but bantys are quick to mouve and soon they all adjust ! I have 2 normal chicken and later I bought 2 bantys and after 5 days all went great but if you stress too much animals do feel it and get stressed too ! Hope make you see it in a different way , by the way love your blog ciao from Marcello from Roma Italy
I am part way through my next post but am holding back to add tonight’s bedtime to it. I understand what you are saying about chickens being a farm animal but the way we keep them in our back garden is different to farming and they are pets.
I have already bought a second coop which will be updated on tonight’s post as I agree that picking them up is too much stress and I don’t want to that any more.
I know it’s spending more money but a spare coop is a handy thing to have in case in future there may be a sick chicken or one needing separation, you never know.
I have already spent so much on these girls anyway, it’s more important to me to do what I feel is right at the moment.
You are right bout bantys being quick that’s for sure.
I am pleased that you are reading my blog and really hope you will read tonight’s to see how the new coop is working out. I just hope they will use it. If I have to pick them up one last time to show them the new coop is theirs for bedtime, I will do this in the hope that they will then go in on their own in future and I will stop handling them.
I do have their best interest at heart and am sure in time they will settle down happily in my flock.
Sorry to be so long winded!
I think chickens are just like little children some times. If you let them get into bad habits, then they will get into bad habits!
If your child keeps asking for jam donuts for breakfast, you wouldn’t just say “she’s got into such a bad habit of eating all these donuts” and feed them to her. You would probably say “I need to nip this in the bud!”. I think you should do the same with the chickens.
If they insist on laying eggs in a cardboard box, well tough! If there is no cardboard box I’m sure the pet carrier will eventually begin to look more appealing…
Also there isn’t room in the run for another coop …YET! I think you could extend it. The vegetable patch isn’t that important, is it?
I just had to reply to Steve…I think your husband might just go on strike if his beloved veg plot went .! I think a second coup is useful but then I would seeing as I have two . I found that it saved a lot of stress and is also usdeful; for sick chicks or a bully etc.,
Not neccessary but an answer I think .
Thank you Jackie. You probably know but Steve is my Steve. Update tonight on the second coop. IT WILL WORK! Right about the veg plot too, I keep suggesting my chooks need it but Richard won’t be moved!!
See my previous comment (above), more tonight on the new coop and nest box already in place. Now, I just need to train them to use it. NO MORE CARDBOARD BOX!! (but I’ve hung on to it just in case)