Above: Built four days ago. I know, the windows, but there was nowhere else to put the sucker (8x10 metal shed). I don't have any spare time right now to go buy some fabric.
Do you think I have too many golf balls in the nests?
I have three, (approx.) 25 week old EE's, who haven't laid yet. Ginger, the only one who squats (?) when I gently put my hand on her back, got into the lower nest. She didn't stay long.
I haven't found any hidden eggs yet. I don't know if they laid while they were in the "pet store" and I don't know if they laid for the people the store people got them from. I bought them only
11 days ago and there has been a lot of stress for them. I'm hoping that's it. The humidity and heat is horrendous here and of course I'm their third home in 3 weeks.
Above: Top roosting bar from left: Liza and Joonie. Ginger is on the second roost. I'm guessing their open wings is because it's hot and humid. (Newbie here)
I would think a couple of balls in each would be fine. The idea is that they think another bird has laid there so it must be a good place. They will likely gather up everything egg like in the box then lay theirs in the same place. I know some say the birds want dark and privacy when they lay but most of my birds lay in the open box (4' long, 2 dividers). Their other option is the closed 4' long community box. So your girls MIGHT want it dark or, as you say, they are stressed out by all the moves. Since Ginger squats and was checking out the nest box, don't be surprised to find an egg sometime in the next week.
If it is that hot and humid, do you have plenty of ventilation so the metal shed doesn't heat up even more? I would have a TON of OPEN hardware cloth covered windows in a Florida coop. The window between the roosts and nest boxes looks like a multi louvered design. GREAT! You can keep them open even when it is raining. You might also want to suspend a tarp over the coop to shade it from the sun. You really don't want baked chicken in there.
The link worked when I clicked on it (Chrome)I got them at Lowes via @brounii who had them first. I love that they self stack.Almost 16 x 12 x 19 plenty big enough for more than one at a time. Less than $10 each and delivered to the house too.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_149439-8424...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=
edited:link didn't work so copy and paste
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