Good age to add nesting boxes to coop?

[Nomibear]

My chickens are only 10 weeks right now, but i've been hearing several different ages for them to start laying. As early as 16 weeks? I have 10 Buff Leghorns, and 9 of the Ideal 236 (I think). Are these breeds that lay earlier on, or later?
We have fenced in part of the yard, but it is uncovered and not even half of them sleep in the coop at night. (coop is open 24/7) Most sleep on some low branches nearby.

When should i have the nesting boxes ready, and in place? I have read that many of your chickens are choosing their own areas in their running zone to lay instead. Will it even do me any good to put the nesting boxes in the coop?

Thank you for your opinions and input ~Naomi

 

[Ridgerunner]

You can't tell exactly when they will start laying. I've had some dual purpose birds start at 16 weeks, but it is usually a few weeks later. I'm not familiar wih the Ideal 236. 16 weeks is possible with yours but don't be too disappointed if it is a few weeks later.

It won't hurt to put some nests in the coop. They might use them. I suggest putting golf balls or some type of fake egg in the nests to show them where you want them to lay. If you get lucky and have the first one that starts laying to lay in those nests, you might find that a lot will follow them. They tend to lay where others are laying. If you could lock them all in the coop for a week or so, especially around 16 to 17 weeks, they might start using it to roost plus they will certainly be familair with it. Feeding them in the coop, whether regular feed or just treats will also help them get used to it.

I don't see anything wrong with putting the nests in now. You certainly want them in place before they start to lay. I'm adding new layers every year and the nests are in place for the existing layers. I don't have problems with the nests being there when the chicks are young. Occasionally some will spend a night or two in the nests when they are transitioning from sleeping on the floor to the roosts but that is not a long term problem.

With it being the first time the nests are being used, I think it is a good idea to have them in early so you can maybe see a problem and correct it before they start laying. An example: They will probably play in the nests some before they start laying, scratching around looking for bugs or grain. They like to scratch in bedding. If the bedding gets raked out to the floor, you need a higher lip to hold the bedding in.

Good luck!!!

 

[teach1rusl]

Yep, yep, and yep with RR's suggestions. I like to have them available early so that they have plenty of time to explore them beforehand. Chickens are naturally suspicious of new things, so early gives them plenty of tiem to adapt. Lace them with fake eggs (boiled eggs would even work) and show them to your gals

 

[DanEP]

We have fenced in part of the yard, but it is uncovered and not even half of them sleep in the coop at night. (coop is open 24/7) Most sleep on some low branches nearby.

I agree on the nest boxes and wouldn't be too suprised if it takes a while for your girls to start laying. Start watching for their combs turning bright red this will tell you their getting close.
As far as the roosting in branches if their not in a covered run I wouldn't allow it. I just got hit by 2 feral cats and lost thirty hens and that was in the daytime. At night they can be even worse. If it was me I'd lock everybody in the coop for a few days till everybody got used to sleeping in there. It's easier to break them of bad habits while their young than letting them grow up sleeping in trees and then trying to retrain them or even worse finding out the hard way that predetors can climb trees.

 

[Nomibear]

Thanks for the input. I'll get the nest boxes finished tomorrow. the coop we built is only 4x7 feet, and since we have 19 chickens i will prob only put them in there at night, not a couple of days straight.
The branches that i am referring to are not a growing tree, but a tree that was cut down and is laying on the ground. So the tallest branch is only about 5 feet off the ground.
We have a good guard dog in the coop that has kept everything else out so far, and gets along well with the chickens and ducks.
I'm sorry DanEP for the loss of your hens. That's awful!

 

[Nomibear]

The nesting boxes are built and added to the coop. All the chickens are spending tonight in there, and most of them did last night. Hopefully this will do the trick of retraining their sleeping habits

 

[DanEP]

That's good I'd just hate for you to lose your girls and if their using the coop getting them to use the nest boxes should be easier. My dogs gew up with cats and won't chase them.

 

[Nomibear]

Sleeping in the cop did NOT do the trick! This evening i spend about an hour catching them all one at a time. a few even managed to get into a nearby tree! (I admit, i through a ball into the tree to scare them down) I found out today that the wings i had clipped at 6 and 8 weeks are almost all regrown, and almost all of them were able to fly over a 6 foot fence today! Keep in mind they are just over 11 weeks... Tomorrow morning they are all getting the other wing clipped!!

 

[chickmagnetZ]

i herd aproblem of foxeseating chickens. one time it got so bad that the fox atackkt in the day when the little girl was holding it. the fox jumped the fence and grabed the chicken. the little girl screemed and grabed it back but the fox already severed the neck and blood was squriting out ug what a terrible thought.

 

[Nomibear]

How awful for the little girl! I can't imagine a fox being so bold!

Almost all my girls are laying now. I still have all 19 with only 3 more who haven't started laying yet. One of the Cali whites has even gone broody! We find out next week if they are going to hatch. Right now we are getting between 6-8 eggs a day.
So far we have only found 2 eggs outside the coop nest boxes. One was near the door though, so i am guessing she just didn't make it into the coop. hehe