I gather the eggs at least once a day. I also put fake ceramic eggs in the nesting boxes after they started eating their eggs. That stopped them immediately. The eggs look so real that I often have to double check which they are. The idea is the chickens try to eat the egg but because of the hard surface they lose interest and stop pecking at their eggs
We did the same. But I marked the fake ones with a messy F. My husband thought it was just poop on a real egg. But as he looked closer to possibly remove some of the poop... He realized it was a fake egg. Works great!!
If you’re battling poopy eggs, it might be that your birds need worming. Dust their feed with diatomaceous earth (be careful not to breathe dust of any kind) and see if that doesn’t fix the poopy eggs (and worms).
Just a suggestion: I think part of your problem may be that you have your nesting boxes at floor level. In my experience, nesting boxes should always be high enough off the floor that hens can't look into them while scratching around on the floor. Make your hens jump up onto a perch at least 6 inches off the floor before being able to enter nesting boxes. Now I realize you already have your coop built and you probably don't want to change it, but for other people reading this, I would highly suggest you do not get a coop where the nesting boxes are at the floor level. Also don't put your nesting boxes high. Six to twelve inches from floor level is fine. I know other people will have other opinions, just sharing mine for what it's worth. FYI - There are products out there called nesting pad, which are pretty much the same thing you created with the astro-turf. The nesting pads are like straw that has been compressed together and fit into a standard nesting box.
Hi, hows this working out for you now? We have just put this down on the coop floor and nest boxes after finding a load of red mites hanging around. I like it so far as its easy to let the dropping dry in the sunshine then with a small rake easily scooped off. Alriiight!
I've had chickens for a long time and have tried that in my nesting boxes. My hens didn't like that at all. They refused to even go in the boxes that had that in it. To me it was easier to just change out the wood chips if an egg got broken. You also might want to look into how to stop a hen from eating eggs.
Do you not have any hay or soft bedding for the nest boxes? I was always told/taught to lay down some hay so the eggs were laid on a soft surface. Plus any debris/droppings could be picked up by the hay - and put into the compost pile - then new hay put in after that. 🐔🥚🐔🥚
I’ll try this for sure! I’ve been looking for something that would still allow the eggs to roll a little and this might work! Great video! Thanks for sharing! 🙏
I have tried everything but this, definitely going to go out next week on a mission lol here they will tear out anything I put in the boxes. I've tried straw, nesting pads, different size shavings, hemp, mix and matching all these as well and those...turds...within 1 hour, they wipe out all 8 boxes 😕 and worse, only 2 out if 21 lay in them 🤦♀️
I put a bar in front of my nesting boxes so the chicken can use it to get into the box. I have a hen that rather roost on that bar instead of the roost bars is that ok and if not how can I break her from doing it, keep in mind that it is a stationary bar
After 20 plus years of experience the better you keep the nesting box clean with a nice bed of some type of shavings the clean egg level is about 98% 60 plus birds with an interior 15 bin next box works for me great the only bird that lays in the floor is one missing her foot so she cant seem to get up to the nesting box so I don't mind I only wash eggs when you can get an egg breaker issue otherwise we sell butt fresh eggs all day long 24-7 with a road side stand. We know that un washed eggs easily last fresh for 4 months or more in a mild climate top of the basement stairs so you get an idea.
Oh WOW, I never wash my eggs but I had no idea they will last 4 months that way. I was going to look into water glassing them. But maybe not now. Thanks.
I would love to know that answer. We are about to make a new coop & I was going to get some like these. I was wondering if they get too cold or too hot. Depending on the weather.
I have an egg stealing dog also. :-) I made the mistake of putting a couple eggs down and I did something I turned around and I only had one egg. It happens. Just an idea, if you paint the inside of your nesting box is a dark color, or your chickens might like it better.
Hey from Australia I am wondering how the astro turf is going and if the girls got used to it in the nesting boxes. We have changed up our nesting box a few times but the chickens invariably end up laying on the ground in the chicken coop :( and like you we are well sick of dirty eggs :)
Did you have to retrain them to lay in the nesting box after putting the turf in? I put turf in mine last night and came out to find 2 eggs in the middle of my coop.. I put the fake eggs in there for now Hoping it was just an accident this morning
Yes chicken eggs you can be washed but I guess it is a problem for some people. Duck eggs on the other hand should not be washed unless you are using them quickly. They have a protective coating which can be washed off. If you leave that coating on they will last weeks longer on the kitchen side.
Chicken eggs also have a protective coating. If you wash them then put them in the fridge. If you do not wash them then they’re ok to sit out of the fridge for at least a couple of weeks.
U should never WASH eggs. I used a vegetable brush to wipe off eggs. Eggs stay cleaner if they don't roost in nesting box. Also removing all eggs every day keeps things cleaner & less picking
I have 2 sets of astroturf. So I don’t have to put it back wet
Can you do a video on your warm hut that you made? I need to figure out a way to keep my girls warm this winter
I gather the eggs at least once a day. I also put fake ceramic eggs in the nesting boxes after they started eating their eggs. That stopped them immediately. The eggs look so real that I often have to double check which they are. The idea is the chickens try to eat the egg but because of the hard surface they lose interest and stop pecking at their eggs
We did the same.
But I marked the fake ones with a messy F. My husband thought it was just poop on a real egg.
But as he looked closer to possibly remove some of the poop... He realized it was a fake egg. Works great!!
I use carpet squares in mine with shavings over it and they seem happy with that.
If you’re battling poopy eggs, it might be that your birds need worming. Dust their feed with diatomaceous earth (be careful not to breathe dust of any kind) and see if that doesn’t fix the poopy eggs (and worms).
Thank you for the tips!
I also sprinkle a bit of oregano on their feed.
Our eggs are so clean my mom thought I was washing them before I gave them to her.
Just a suggestion: I think part of your problem may be that you have your nesting boxes at floor level. In my experience, nesting boxes should always be high enough off the floor that hens can't look into them while scratching around on the floor. Make your hens jump up onto a perch at least 6 inches off the floor before being able to enter nesting boxes. Now I realize you already have your coop built and you probably don't want to change it, but for other people reading this, I would highly suggest you do not get a coop where the nesting boxes are at the floor level. Also don't put your nesting boxes high. Six to twelve inches from floor level is fine. I know other people will have other opinions, just sharing mine for what it's worth.
FYI - There are products out there called nesting pad, which are pretty much the same thing you created with the astro-turf. The nesting pads are like straw that has been compressed together and fit into a standard nesting box.
I have heard about the floor level, and have thought about changing it but afraid to ruin the coop at this point
Hi, hows this working out for you now? We have just put this down on the coop floor and nest boxes after finding a load of red mites hanging around. I like it so far as its easy to let the dropping dry in the sunshine then with a small rake easily scooped off. Alriiight!
I've had chickens for a long time and have tried that in my nesting boxes. My hens didn't like that at all. They refused to even go in the boxes that had that in it. To me it was easier to just change out the wood chips if an egg got broken. You also might want to look into how to stop a hen from eating eggs.
Great idea!
I check for eggs, three times a day and and always have poop on alot of the eggs.
I'm trying this, thank you! 👍
They may need deworming. Poopy eggs often mean worms
Also your hens may need extra calcium..not enough and they have thin shells that break too easy!
Some hens want thicker material on the bottom. But the artificial turf looks like a game changer for most.
Do you not have any hay or soft bedding for the nest boxes?
I was always told/taught to lay down some hay so the eggs were laid on a soft surface. Plus any debris/droppings could be picked up by the hay - and put into the compost pile - then new hay put in after that. 🐔🥚🐔🥚
I’ll try this for sure! I’ve been looking for something that would still allow the eggs to roll a little and this might work! Great video! Thanks for sharing! 🙏
This has worked great, I would try this!
When I start seeing dirty eggs, I’ll deworm them. But I have some fake grass and I’m gonna try it! Thanks!
nice i'll give this a try when i get new chicken for my flock
Bailey is so cute!
She is a really good dog :)
I have tried everything but this, definitely going to go out next week on a mission lol here they will tear out anything I put in the boxes. I've tried straw, nesting pads, different size shavings, hemp, mix and matching all these as well and those...turds...within 1 hour, they wipe out all 8 boxes 😕 and worse, only 2 out if 21 lay in them 🤦♀️
Yeah we don’t always have them laying in the boxes but we sure would love to keep them cleaner and make it easier for us!
@@AcresOfAdventure same. The girls here lay them in the run and trample all over, and under the roosting bars...and we know what's under that 😳 lol
I put a bar in front of my nesting boxes so the chicken can use it to get into the box. I have a hen that rather roost on that bar instead of the roost bars is that ok and if not how can I break her from doing it, keep in mind that it is a stationary bar
After 20 plus years of experience the better you keep the nesting box clean with a nice bed of some type of shavings the clean egg level is about 98%
60 plus birds with an interior 15 bin next box works for me great the only bird that lays in the floor is one missing her foot so she cant seem to get up to the nesting box so I don't mind
I only wash eggs when you can get an egg breaker issue otherwise we sell butt fresh eggs all day long 24-7 with a road side stand.
We know that un washed eggs easily last fresh for 4 months or more in a mild climate top of the basement stairs so you get an idea.
Oh WOW, I never wash my eggs but I had no idea they will last 4 months that way.
I was going to look into water glassing them. But maybe not now.
Thanks.
Good idea.
Glad you think so! I hope it stays working well for us
The dog is the egg eater! lol
Do you have a link to your metal nesting box?
Great idea. Thanks. Worth a try. 😅
It works great for us!
Question on the egg box, Metal? Why metal? Doesn't the metal heat up in the summer?
I would love to know that answer. We are about to make a new coop & I was going to get some like these. I was wondering if they get too cold or too hot. Depending on the weather.
Balley - lol dogs and kiddos taking eggs
Where did you get the nesting box?
I have an egg stealing dog also. :-) I made the mistake of putting a couple eggs down and I did something I turned around and I only had one egg. It happens.
Just an idea, if you paint the inside of your nesting box is a dark color, or your chickens might like it better.
That's a great idea! We will have to try that!
Hey from Australia
I am wondering how the astro turf is going and if the girls got used to it in the nesting boxes. We have changed up our nesting box a few times but the chickens invariably end up laying on the ground in the chicken coop :( and like you we are well sick of dirty eggs :)
Poop on the egg can be a warning sign that you need to deworm your chickens.
Hi, where did you get your nesting box? This is exactly what I'm looking for!
Great idea! Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching! Your so welcome!
where did you buy your nesting box's?
Where did you get that nesting box
Love the video
Thank you Ted!
I love how they just pop out their coop/high tunnel😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
It never gets old watching them do that
Brilliant 😊
Good idea, but I'm going to make my own with coconut 🥥 fiber.
Hi, where is your nesting box from?
Fake grass, blk rubber pan & H.D. gloves on my shopping list for tomorrow!
The grass has been amazing for us!
gather more frequently?
Yes that is the best way to keep them clean
Did you have to retrain them to lay in the nesting box after putting the turf in? I put turf in mine last night and came out to find 2 eggs in the middle of my coop.. I put the fake eggs in there for now Hoping it was just an accident this morning
Some have always laid in the coop instead of nesting box, we didn’t see a big change
Where is your nesting box from?
Where did u buy your nesting boxes
Found them in a resale store but you can just by fake grass from online or Home Depot
No, the nesting box itself…where did you get it?
I don't have chickens but have an interest in getting some in the future. Question...so you can't wash the eggs?
Yes chicken eggs you can be washed but I guess it is a problem for some people. Duck eggs on the other hand should not be washed unless you are using them quickly. They have a protective coating which can be washed off. If you leave that coating on they will last weeks longer on the kitchen side.
Chicken eggs also have a protective coating. If you wash them then put them in the fridge. If you do not wash them then they’re ok to sit out of the fridge for at least a couple of weeks.
I tried a couple of different kinds. But the mice nest under them🙄
Mice and chickens, wish they didn’t enjoy chicken feed so much!
Do you mean the mice like to nest under the roll away box or the astroturf?
But everything you see on those eggs that come out on it protects and preserves the egg on the outside of shell
Yes that is true, we don’t clean them but it would be better without straw all over them
We use pine chips
That might save money…shavings aren’t cheap..
what if they poop in the boxes?
They will. He plans to rinse the turf but I'd keep a second set so the first set can dry. I just use straw. It's not that much work.
We have extra ones so that we can replace the dirty one then wash it.
U should never WASH eggs. I used a vegetable brush to wipe off eggs.
Eggs stay cleaner if they don't roost in nesting box.
Also removing all eggs every day keeps things cleaner & less picking
Easter egg hunt 😆
She has never done that before and she decided to start grabbing all of them!
@@AcresOfAdventure the stories you'll have to tell grandkids:)
When you see your dirty eggs eggs chicken has worms
I have heard that, but also I does come out their backside 🙈
Do you really want to put plastic, fake "grass" in your coop???
I have not had a problem with this method at all!
FFS just put some straw down
You could
I'm the first one to comment
Yes you are, woohoo!
You need to streamline your video.