Finding the first egg??

[seafood]

Our 10 chickens are now 19 weeks old. Their combs have all darkened up and I assume I could expect to see the first egg any day now.

We have 4 nest boxes in the coop with straw just awaiting the big day. Of the 10 chickens about 5 have started getting "out" of the fenced in area and enjoy true free ranging throughout the day. All of them come back in for water and roosting and things seem to be going well.

Question: How quickly will they acclimate to the nest boxes? Or will they not acclimate at all and just lay anywhere they deem safe and appropriate? Do I need to be searching the outlying areas that the free rangers cover to make sure they are laying elsewhere?

Any tips for me as we are getting ready to see production begin soon for the first time?

thanks

 

[goldnchocolate]

Getting the first egg is so exciting

!! Keep a lookout for eggs that may have been laid out of the nest. I think sometimes the first egg sort of surprises the hen and they just lay where ever they happen to be at the moment. You could also play a few "dummy" eggs in the nests to give them a visual of where they should be laying them.

 

[DLS]

can't wait to hear how it tasted