6 week olds

[JazzyLoo]

We have 4 Buff Orpington and 4 Black Australorps that are 6 weeks old. We have a couple fake eggs in 2 of our 5 roosting boxes to help them when it comes time for them to start laying their eggs. Tonight when I looked in on them they were placing the eggs under themselves in the boxes. Isn’t it to soon for them to be doing this? Am I causing a problem with the eggs in there? Should I remove them for now?

 

[HenneryTheEighth]

I'd be curious to know as well. (I blocked off my nesting boxes for my eight-week old birds so they wouldn't roost in them.)

 

[Tamdog]

Wow, I think this is kinda cool. I saw my little 12 week olds checking out the laying box, but not putting the fake eggs under them - I did read yesterday the average age to lay is 18 weeks.

 

[HenneryTheEighth]

Maybe they are like little kids playing with dolls. . . .

 

[JazzyLoo]

I'd be curious to know as well. (I blocked off my nesting boxes for my eight-week old birds so they wouldn't roost in them.)

Maybe I should block them off as well?

 

[aart]

roosting boxes

There are nests(usually 'boxes') and roosts....
....the first is for laying eggs and the second for sleeping on at night.
Nests can be closed of until birds are much closer to point of lay(~14 wks),
so they get in the habit of sleeping on the roosts, which should be higher than the nests because birds like to sleep in the highest possible place.

 

[JazzyLoo]

There are nests(usually 'boxes') and roosts....
....the first is for laying eggs and the second for sleeping on at night.
Nests can be closed of until birds are much closer to point of lay(~14 wks),
so they get in the habit of sleeping on the roosts, which should be higher than the nests because birds like to sleep in the highest possible place.

Oh I’m so sorry. That’s my mistake I misworded my question! I meant they were getting into the nesting boxes at night and some are roosting on the bars. I will clean them out and block them off! Thank you so much.

 

[aart]

Oh I’m so sorry. That’s my mistake I misworded my question! I meant they were getting into the nesting boxes at night and some are roosting on the bars. I will clean them out and block them off! ☺ Thank you so much.

No Worries.....Terminology can be confusing at first.