Can I use colored plastic eggs to encourage laying?

[farmerkylie]

I am trying to encourage laying with my 10 week old hens and don't want them to poop in their nesting boxes. Can I use colored easer eggs for this or will they not think it's an egg since it is not white nor brown?

 

[6of6chicks]

Isn't 10 weeks way too early? I don't think there's anything you can do to encourage them to start laying sooner than they are ready. The earliest I've seen is around 16 weeks, but most are more like 24 weeks for the first egg.

 

[farmerkylie]

Yeah it's way early, I just don't want them pooping in their nesting boxes

Isn't 10 weeks way too early? I don't think there's anything you can do to encourage them to start laying sooner than they are ready. The earliest I've seen is around 16 weeks, but most are more like 24 weeks for the first egg.

 

[6of6chicks]

I have my nest boxes blocked off so they can't get in there. I just used a scrap pieces of plywood left over from building. I'll take the plywood off when my girls get close to the right age (they're 10 1/2 weeks now).