At What Age Do You Open The Nesting Boxes To Chicks

[CSWolffe]

My girls are only 5 weeks old right now, and still prefer to sleep in a warm pile of chickens. I've not bothered to block off the nest boxes. I have two boxes, built inside the coop. My girls do enjoy sleeping ON the nest boxes, rather than IN them or on the roost. I figure this good enough, they still get to cuddle, but the are choosing to sleep up off the floor, which is ALMOST roosting. And every morning when I come out to check on them, they are all perched on the roost waiting for me.
Unless they change their habits and start pooping in the nests, I won't worry about it. I would suggest you do the same. If your boxes are open, leave them that way unless your chickens start sleeping in there. If your boxes are closed, don't worry about it, open them up a few weeks before you expect them to lay.

 

[irishrose57]

Mine are 8 wks and huddle on floor not roosting bars. Have nest boxes closed off. Will also wait a bit to open them

 

[backinthecoop45]

If your chickens are using the roost you can probably open up the nests now.  It's just so they won't be in the habit of sleeping (and thus pooping) in the nest boxes, so when they start laying, you will have clean nest boxes.  You can put hay, straw, or most anything used for litter in the nest boxes, whatever is available.

My nesting boxes are in the coop and they are about 13 weeks old now. Do the boxes need a roof for more privacy & better egg laying? Also, what's with the fake eggs in the nest? When do you put them in there and do they stay in there all day everyday or what?
Thanks

 

[Spartan22]

The fake eggs are for them to use as a starter (to indicate it is a safe place for laying eggs)  You will notice when they start laying the most popular nest are the ones that has eggs already.  As for the roof on nest, most hens feel secure and private if its darker and secluded after all their instinct is to protect and rear their young.  I got both open (repurpose old drawers)  and protected nests (with divider & curtains), and they both get used according to their preference  and or pecking order I got 12 nest total for 30 hens and they have 6 favorite ones and 1 layer prefers the corner of the coop floor.

 

[backinthecoop45]

Hmm. That's pretty interesting. Those nesting boxes are a really good neat idea too! So when should we put the plastic eggs in the boxes?

 

[Spartan22]

Hmm. That's pretty interesting. Those nesting boxes are a really good neat idea too! So when should we put the plastic eggs in the boxes?

I say between 18-22 wks, some will lay eggs early some later. Some of the chicken keepers use golf balls in their nests, only bad thing about it when eggs hit those hard fake eggs, eggs will have the possibility of breaking due to impact since layers stand when they push their eggs out.

 

[aart]

Quote: Yeah, but the lightweight fake eggs get kicked out of the nest.
I've never had a problem with golf balls and hard plastic fake eggs breaking real ones, not much different than a real egg in there....
.....unless they were thin shelled coming out

 

[lazy gardener]

Yeah, but the lightweight fake eggs get kicked out of the nest.
I've never had a problem with golf balls and hard plastic fake eggs breaking real ones, not much different than a real egg in there....
.....unless they were thin shelled coming out

Aart, I take a rock, wrap it in tissue paper to pad it well, then put it in the plastic Easter egg, and super glue the egg shut. My girls do seem to have a preference for that one Easter egg over the golf balls. I need to get some more. But I'm too cheap to buy them at any time other than the post holiday 75% discount.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have used golf balls and just plain rocks, never had too much problem with either. Yesterday, found a nest on the floor with 3 eggs in it! Silly girls. But last week had a bull snake in a nest, with one egg part way in his mouth. He was big snake, wonder how long he has been picking up a few eggs, hope he does not get my chicks.

Mrs K

 

[lazy gardener]

I have used golf balls and just plain rocks, never had too much problem with either. Yesterday, found a nest on the floor with 3 eggs in it! Silly girls. But last week had a bull snake in a nest, with one egg part way in his mouth. He was big snake, wonder how long he has been picking up a few eggs, hope he does not get my chicks.

Mrs K

Were you able to dispatch him???