I trust 6 months is about the laying time. I know this sounds pretty dumb but what is a nesting box. They have wooden boxes inside their coop and it's got pine shavings on the bottom. Do they need something else? And of course I'll put a fake egg down. I really know "0" about raising chickens so I get all my info from the feed store where I buy their food. Anyone willing to put up with my crazy questions will be much appreciated. I definitely need some help. Thanks so much. Fivechicks5
Nest box is what they lay their eggs in so the same thing as the box you are talking about. You'd be better off getting your info from https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center than from most feed store employees. They may or may not have any experience with chickens. They do know where in the store poultry feed is stored and what other products they carry but I wouldn't call any of them I've encountered 'chicken experts'. In spring and summer, lay usually commences at about 20-24 weeks but could be as early as 16, depending on breed. This time of year and mid winter it could take much longer because the main impetus to ovulation is daylength and more accurately, increasing day length. That is a sign of spring, warmer weather coming and a wealth of forage for new chicks. That's kind of the same with all animals. Chickens have evolved from jungle fowl that laid a small clutch once or twice a year to the birds we have today that have been bred to lay all year.
