@sebloc If I were you I'd wait a week or two before opening the nesting boxes for them to explore. So when they are about 20 weeks old or a little more...
You can put a 'false egg' in there to help them realise that this is a nest for laying in. A false egg could be a specially bought wooden egg, or a hard boiled egg (make sure you mark it with a X in pencil, so you can tell which egg is which! And don't eat it later when it's served it's purpose - it will've gone bad being left out in the nest box all that time) or even a golf ball will do!
They are getting close to laying when you see their combs and wattles getting more red, and they will do a 'submissive squat'
here is a web site that gives really good, easy to understand information on when chickens are ready to lay, and a photo of a hen doing submissive squat (sounds like an aerobic exercise, doesn't it?
) - http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/02/when-will-hen-begin-laying-eggs-what-to.html
Just don't get too impatient waiting for that first egg! Sometimes nature needs a little time....
You can put a 'false egg' in there to help them realise that this is a nest for laying in. A false egg could be a specially bought wooden egg, or a hard boiled egg (make sure you mark it with a X in pencil, so you can tell which egg is which! And don't eat it later when it's served it's purpose - it will've gone bad being left out in the nest box all that time) or even a golf ball will do!
They are getting close to laying when you see their combs and wattles getting more red, and they will do a 'submissive squat'
here is a web site that gives really good, easy to understand information on when chickens are ready to lay, and a photo of a hen doing submissive squat (sounds like an aerobic exercise, doesn't it?
Just don't get too impatient waiting for that first egg! Sometimes nature needs a little time....
