Egg decoy

[alaskachick]

My chickens are coming closer to 20 weeks. They are all the same age from the same hatch. The have never laid in their nesting boxes that we have provided for them. I am wondering if I should put eggs in the nest so they will get the idea. I have been worrried about doing this for fear they they will get curious and break the egg and then get an appetite for eggs. What do you think?

 

[Faracas]

I vote for golf balls. My silkie just went broody on a clutch of them

 

[gryeyes]

I use golf balls too.

I wouldn't use real eggs - get wooden or ceramic ones, or even fill plastic Easter eggs with sand to weight them down, then glue the halves together.

 

[zDoc]

Quote:

Too funny! it's gunna take a while to hatch those....

 

[EconMan]

I can't get my EE to lay in the nest boxes! I've used golf balls and moved her eggs to different nests for a little while before harvesting them and still can't get her to lay in a nest. She's been laying very well for two weeks. Still hoping she'll come around. I also have three other hens that should start laying any day now...hope they figure out the nest boxes and don't lay in the corner of the coop.

 

[Mrs. K]

She might when the others do. Once a while, even now, I will find one in a weird place, but they really like to lay where someone else has thought a good place. I have 4 nest boxes open, they strongly prefer two of them, and will lay in the third, under dire circumstances. They never lay in the last one.

mk

 

[okiechicken]

i bought some wooden eggs from hobby lobby. its funny to see them nose them around like they are 'real'.

ive still found an egg or two on the floor of the coop. hopefully the others will get the picture as they start laying.