Gettin' ready for some eggs

[MommaK6]

Alright, I know I shouldn't over-think it and they'll lay eggs whether I am prepared for it or not, but well, I'd rather they lay their eggs in the coop, not under a bush somewhere where I won't find them. Lol! My 8 "big girls" (I have a second group that is a month younger) will be 20 weeks old tomorrow. I am getting BEYOND antsy for eggs now. Do you suppose they may be laying (maybe the RIRs?) someone else? Anyways, for my 18 chickens (and the 2 ducks that share the coop) I have 4 milk crates and a 3 bin organizer stacker I found. All are filled, although the milk crates have been emptied, courtesy of my toddler.


1. How can I keep the "stuff" in the milk crates?
2. Should I just put a couple golf balls in a few nests and just let them discover it? They don't go anywhere near them in the coop, actually. There isn't even any poop in that whole area!!
3. If there could be a hidden nest somewhere, are there any "clues" to look for?

Any other information I should know?

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you have the crates laying on the side, put a lip across the bottom to keep the stuff in. 5" or so should work to keep the chickens from scratching it out. How you handle the toddler problem is up to you.

Put a golf ball in each place you want them to lay. It's not a guarantee to work, but it really does help. I've proven that to myself.

If you lock them in the coop or better, coop and run, you may be able to tell if they are laying already. If a pullet is laying in a hidden nest, she will probably be pacing the fence of the run and looking anxious to get out when she is ready to lay. But eventually she will give up and lay the egg.

When I have one that is laying outside the coop, I lock all mine in the coop and run for about a week. That usually, not always but usually, retrains them in where to lay. Those hidden nests can be hard to find, but if you can find it, take all the eggs out and try to make it look like it is not a safe hidden place to lay. That's not always easy.

 

[MommaK6]

If you have the crates laying on the side, put a lip across the bottom to keep the stuff in. 5" or so should work to keep the chickens from scratching it out. How you handle the toddler problem is up to you. Lucky he's cute! Lol!
Put a golf ball in each place you want them to lay. It's not a guarantee to work, but it really does help. I've proven that to myself.
If you lock them in the coop or better, coop and run, you may be able to tell if they are laying already. If a pullet is laying in a hidden nest, she will probably be pacing the fence of the run and looking anxious to get out when she is ready to lay. But eventually she will give up and lay the egg.
When I have one that is laying outside the coop, I lock all mine in the coop and run for about a week. That usually, not always but usually, retrains them in where to lay. Those hidden nests can be hard to find, but if you can find it, take all the eggs out and try to make it look like it is not a safe hidden place to lay. That's not always easy. We do not really have a way to make a run for them, and I don't feel it would be right to keep them locked up in there. It's dark. And that certainly won't help the eggs arrive. I don't really think they have started laying, although I have heard them bawking quite a bit more, sounds like what I remember the hens of my childhood doing as they laid. So far no squatting out of them, either.

 

[MommaK6]

Our first egg, compared to a store bought egg! Laid in the nest, yesterday!

 

[CluckyCluck]

Yayyy! Congratulations on such a beautiful first egg!!!