chickens aren't laying... any ideas?

[ChickensFromIdaho]

hello! i have 7 chickens, not 100% sure on the breeds. i got them around early march, not sure when to expect my first eggs... I'm wondering if my nesting boxes are sufficient? do i need to supplement calcium before they start laying? any ideas or comments would be appreciated!

 

[dunnmom]

As far as when they will lay depends on what breeds as well as how fast or slow they mature. Mine were between 20 and 30 weeks when they started laying.

Also, new layers don't always lay in the nest box. And even then, you will have to wait and see if they like the nest box at all. I don't spot anything obviously wrong with your nest boxes.

 

[barred2rock]

It would be best to have a kick plate on the fronts of the boxes about 3" high to prevent bedding and eggs from being scratched out. It's a bit difficult to see how tall the nest boxes are, but they look kind of short at that angle. Hens typically like their nest boxes to be tall enough that they can stand in them.

 

[chickenlickin8]

I agree with barred2rock. Add a small 3 to 4 inch tall trim board along the front of the boxes to prevent egg breakage. Your boxes should be 12 inches x 12 x 12. As for the breeds, looks like white leghorns, barred rock and black australorp or black sexlink. All good laying breeds. They should lay at 6 months or so, maybe sooner. Good luck!

 

[ChickensFromIdaho]

the boxes are very close to 12x12x12. maybe a half inch smaller on the width. i will add that trim piece for sure because they have been scratching the bedding and dummy eggs out at night. (3 or 4 of them pile in one of the boxes at night). are there any tricks (besides dummy eggs) to make them want to lay in the boxes instead of on the ground somewhere? they have quite a bit of coop and run space so I'm a little worried they will pick a random spot. i was free ranging them for a while but i didn't want to have them start laying in the yard so i figured i'd keep them in the coop until they start laying to train them for the boxes. but i want to make sure they actually do lay in them!!!! all ideas appreciated.

 

[dunnmom]

Well, our first eggs were laid in the run, but it wasn't long before they started using the boxes. After the first two girls figured out the boxes, the other girls laid their first eggs in the boxes and have been pretty good about it since. We had a few eggs laid in the run or on the coop floor after that, but I think it was because they got irritated I was taking their eggs and they were trying to trick me by not laying in the box hoping I'd overlook them. Ok, maybe I'm reading too much into that. Lol! I used dummy eggs for training them to use the boxes and they worked fine. I also think leaving them in the coop/run area most of the time is a decent idea until they get the hang of it, but it would be good for them to let them out some to forage. I also don't think they need calcium supplements yet.

 

[Askme42]

the boxes are very close to 12x12x12. maybe a half inch smaller on the width. i will add that trim piece for sure because they have been scratching the bedding and dummy eggs out at night. (3 or 4 of them pile in one of the boxes at night). are there any tricks (besides dummy eggs) to make them want to lay in the boxes instead of on the ground somewhere? they have quite a bit of coop and run space so I'm a little worried they will pick a random spot. i was free ranging them for a while but i didn't want to have them start laying in the yard so i figured i'd keep them in the coop until they start laying to train them for the boxes. but i want to make sure they actually do lay in them!!!! all ideas appreciated.

You should block the boxes until they start laying. That way they won't roost in them.

 

[Kristal Morgan]

I got 2 hens last year. One started laying right at 6 months of age. The other waited until a year.

 

[GC-Raptor]

hello! i have 7 chickens, not 100% sure on the breeds. i got them around early march, not sure when to expect my first eggs... I'm wondering if my nesting boxes are sufficient? do i need to supplement calcium before they start laying? any ideas or comments would be appreciated!

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I would also flip the roost bars wide side up and sand the edges smooth. and 12 to 14 inches away from wall, so they don't bang their head on the wall when jumping onto it. GC

 

[ChickensFromIdaho]

thanks for the replies all. always helps to get others opinions