First time layers question

[Bellaterraonline]

Will free range hens know to lay eggs in their boxes and how do you know when they are getting close to laying?

 

[DobieLover]

When they squat when you reach down to touch them and when they start farting around in the nest boxes, they are close to laying.
If they are homed to the coop and the nest boxes appeal to them, they should eventually lay in them but it is not uncommon for pullets to drop eggs randomly as they don't really know what is going on when they first hit POL.
My original flock free ranged and they all laid in the nest boxes in the coop without a problem.

 

[Floof]

You can increase the odds of them using the nest boxes by placing some dummy eggs in there

 

[azygous]

Along about sixteen to twenty weeks, you might want to start checking pelvic bones, the two hard knobs on each side of the vent. As point of lay draws near, the knobs spread farther apart to accommodate an egg passing through the cloaca.

When you can fit two fingers between the pelvic bones, the first egg is imminent. Another sign of point of lay is a bright red comb which has plumped up erect, and also your pullet may crouch when you pass a hand over her back or reach for her from the rear.

When you see these signs, since they have been free ranging, it's wise to coop them up until they start to lay unless you relish a daily egg hunt. The pullets will notice the nests while cooped up and will "play" in them, making a mess but becoming accustomed to them. To further entice them to lay there, you can buy a few fake eggs at the feed store or order online. Hens like to lay where they see an egg has already been deposited.

 

[Bellaterraonline]

Thanks for all of your replies! They sleep in coop at night and I have been leaving inside longer in the mornings to encourage them to checkout nesting boxes. They are hunching down when I pet them, and extremely talkative! Here is Tangelo from a couple days ago

 

[BuddingGardener]

I have a 16.5 week old black australorp that looks close-ish. I opened up the nesting boxes this week and made them ready with dummy eggs. We'll see when she's ready, I'm thinking still a few weeks out but doesn't hurt to let her play around.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

My pullets are 15 weeks old. Some are ISA Browns, the rest are an assortment of "colored eggs layers". And several combs are getting bigger and redder. So should I start providing calcium and open the nest boxes now? I have had them blocked off so they wouldn't sleep in them.

 

[WIchickMama]

My pullets are 15 weeks old. Some are ISA Browns, the rest are an assortment of "colored eggs layers". And several combs are getting bigger and redder. So should I start providing calcium and open the nest boxes now? I have had them blocked off so they wouldn't sleep in them.

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That one front and center is awfully red, are you sure it isnt a boy?

 

[TX Chick Noob]

I have actually been wondering if that one could be a cockerel. Feathers still seem to say pullet but wouldn't surprise me for it to be male.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My pullets are 15 weeks old. Some are ISA Browns, the rest are an assortment of "colored eggs layers". And several combs are getting bigger and redder. So should I start providing calcium and open the nest boxes now? I have had them blocked off so they wouldn't sleep in them.

The center bird looks like a POL pullet.

Yes you should open up nests now to allow birds to explore them in advance, and provide calcium on the side, once again so they can try some in advance.