Chickens around point of lay age using nest boxes but not laying eggs

[kengboss21]

My 2 Isa Browns seem to be around the age of laying and they’re using the nest boxes every morning but it’s been a week and no eggs. Am I missing a curtain or more privacy? Each box is about 1’x1’x1’ with wood shaving bedding.

 

[NatJ]

It is common for pullets to check out the nest boxes before they are quite ready to lay their first eggs. So yours might be getting close but not quite ready yet.

Curtains or privacy will not make a difference in whether the pullets lay eggs or not. It might make a difference in where they lay eggs (nestbox vs. floor), but will probably not have an effect on that either.

 

[nuthatched]

They're just looking.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Just to clarify, when you say they're "using the nests in the morning" do you mean they're wandering in and out of there, or did you find them sleeping in there? As a general rule you don't want your birds sleeping in nests overnight.

 

[kengboss21]

Just to clarify, when you say they're "using the nests in the morning" do you mean they're wandering in and out of there, or did you find them sleeping in there? As a general rule you don't want your birds sleeping in nests overnight.

Theyre squatting over the nest in the morning. They're sleeping in the roosts as normal I've checked

 

[rosemarythyme]

Theyre squatting over the nest in the morning. They're sleeping in the roosts as normal I've checked

Perfect, just making sure!

 

[K0k0shka]

They are getting ready. Getting the urge, the instinct, to find a good spot and sit in it, but maybe the egg itself isn't quite ready to come out yet.