Chickens ignoring nesting boxes...

[Vickilynn45]

My six chickens are now just over 17 weeks old, with my Barred Rock and Rhode Island Red looking closest to POL. The Barred Rock has started squatting now when I come near her. We are using new cat litter boxes and I have the nesting material in them and a couple golf balls in each. But I have noticed they are not paying any attention to the boxes at all- the bedding has not been disturbed. Will they eventually check them out or am I doing something wrong?? I have them set in a quieter corner of the coop on the floor and their roost is opposite from them and much higher.

 

[Judy]

It takes them about a month to get the whole egg laying thing down pat, and especially since yours aren't laying at all, I wouldn't worry about it. They are likely to lay the first egg off the roost or anywhere in the coop or run, anyway. It's almost like they don't know it's coming the first time. Hopefully once they have been laying a couple of weeks, you will find the eggs neatly inside the nest boxes!

 

[Vickilynn45]

Judy, thanks so much- that's good to know! Now I will just relax and let it happen.