Chickens 16 weeks old, they free range -- should I start keeping them in the coop/run? Worried I'll never see an egg

[thistlewick]

My chickens have discovered how awesome my hedgerow is, it's giant and covered and open on the inside enough for chickens to spend ALL DAY in there in shade and safety. I cannot get in there, it's a thicket 100% I COULD bust in there but the risk of spiders is too great (my well head, which is like 4 feet away from this thicket, is covered in Black Widow spiders under that well head cover and I am not going to risk busting through the hedgerow THAT close to deadly spiders, which could inhabit the hedgerow)

I know prevailing wisdom is to keep them in their coop & run -- but ooooof, that would be punishment for them. There are 13 chickens, coop & run together is a mere 60 square feet. Now, I never hear squabbles from them - but I am pretty sure that's because they free range all day.

We are getting a shed that we're going to convert this week or so.

Should I just wait and worry about nest-box training once the shed is done? The shed will be in the pasture, and fenced - we could let them out on the pasture to free range with no access to the hedgerow until they learn to use the nest boxes then.

I just... would really love to actually find my first egg instead of it being laid somewhere out in the hedgerow lol

Just not sure what my course of action should be. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

At 16 weeks just wait until you have the larger space for them. If the run and coop together are only 60 sq ft that is much too small to keep 13 chickens confined to 24/7. You will go from no squabbles to squabbles.

 

[thistlewick]

At 16 weeks just wait until you have the larger space for them. If the run and coop together are only 60 sq ft that is much too small to keep 13 chickens confined to 24/7. You will go from no squabbles to squabbles.

Do you think that they probably wont be laying their first egg anyway? 16 weeks is within the window, but super young... I just don't want to miss my first ever egg -- but I might have to.

And I care for their happiness and contentedness more than I care about seeing my first ever egg.

We should have the shed ready in less than 2 weeks-ish. That'd put my oldest pullets at 18 weeks.

 

[WingItRanch]

I'd say go ahead and wait to lock them up until you have the larger enclosure built. Not sure what type of breeds you have but I have 6 different breeds that are 21.5 weeks and they're still not laying yet. You have some time!

Once that's done, I would lock them up in the coop/run until they've fully made themselves at home and start laying. That way they get into the habbit of laying in your nest boxes before you let them back out to free range.

 

[FrostRanger]

It'll also help to put fake eggs in your nest box so they know that it's a safe place to lay

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Do you think that they probably wont be laying their first egg anyway? 16 weeks is within the window, but super young... I just don't want to miss my first ever egg -- but I might have to.

And I care for their happiness and contentedness more than I care about seeing my first ever egg.

We should have the shed ready in less than 2 weeks-ish. That'd put my oldest pullets at 18 weeks.

16 weeks is still very early for even early laying breeds. Are their combs very red or still pale?

 

[Perris]

I care for their happiness and contentedness more than I care about seeing my first ever egg

I just... would really love to actually find my first egg instead of it being laid somewhere out in the hedgerow lol

I think you have your priorities right. Also, if you continue to let them free range, you will be able to do both via hunting for secret nests in the undergrowth.

I too have a popular hedge, minus scary spiders I'm pleased to say, but still largely inaccessible, and now and then over the years one or other pullet or hen has nested in it, most recently this spring when I found a pullet on 10 eggs one day. In due course it was predated - she was unharmed, fortunately - but since then she has co-brooded with another hen in a coop and they are now raising chicks (3 weeks old today), so she learned the safety lesson herself. Chickens are really quite capable if given the opportunity to show it.

None of mine started laying at anything like 16 weeks, and it is better for their health if they start later, so as others have said, I don't think you're likely to need to make this decision in a hurry.

 

[thistlewick]

It'll also help to put fake eggs in your nest box so they know that it's a safe place to lay

yes I've done this but only the slightest bit of interest so far

16 weeks is still very early for even early laying breeds. Are their combs very red or still pale?

3 of my pullets have very red and growing combs/wattles, I can get pics of them this evening.

I have 3 Jersey Giants who are my oldest pullets and 1 has a very red comb/wattle, one is getting there and one is... tiny af and still dark. (Not pale, never was)

I think you have your priorities right. Also, if you continue to let them free range, you will be able to do both via hunting for secret nests in the undergrowth.

I too have a popular hedge, minus scary spiders I'm pleased to say, but still largely inaccessible, and now and then over the years one or other pullet or hen has nested in it, most recently this spring when I found a pullet on 10 eggs one day. In due course it was predated - she was unharmed, fortunately - but since then she has co-brooded with another hen in a coop and they are now raising chicks (3 weeks old today), so she learned the safety lesson herself. Chickens are really quite capable if given the opportunity to show it.

None of mine started laying at anything like 16 weeks, and it is better for their health if they start later, so as others have said, I don't think you're likely to need to make this decision in a hurry.

We want them to be able to access the house/hedge when they free range because it offers massive safety to the hawks we have. I just don't want those buggers thinking they can lay in there lol

I will wait til the shed arrives and we outfit it -- we will be busting our butts to convert it quickly!

Thanks everyone for your help - I will try and get some pics of my girls this evening.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

yes I've done this but only the slightest bit of interest so far



3 of my pullets have very red and growing combs/wattles, I can get pics of them this evening.

I have 3 Jersey Giants who are my oldest pullets and 1 has a very red comb/wattle, one is getting there and one is... tiny af and still dark. (Not pale, never was)

We want them to be able to access the house/hedge when they free range because it offers massive safety to the hawks we have. I just don't want those buggers thinking they can lay in there lol

I will wait til the shed arrives and we outfit it -- we will be busting our butts to convert it quickly!

Thanks everyone for your help - I will try and get some pics of my girls this evening.

Jersey Giants do not start laying until at least 5 months many even later than that so I don’t think you will have a problem with them laying before you get your coop up.