Hens are ~16 weeks | When to open nesting boxes?

[loulusea]

Hi!

First time Chicken Mama here. I've had my ladies from 1day-1week old and now My girls are around 16 weeks give or take a week. I currently have their nesting boxes blocked off so that they don't get in the habit of sleeping/pooping in them.

Their nesting boxes are currently blocked off by a large sheet of plywood. I am trying to figure out when I should remove the plywood so they can explore the nesting boxes as they are starting to approach an egg laying age...


•should I wait until I see the first egg before removing the plywood?
•Or should I go ahead and open them up now during the day so they can access?
•or should I wait until 18 weeks to open them up?


Thanks for your time and help! Picture of a couple girls just for fun! (I have 20 chickens and 14 different breeds )

 

[Mrs. K]

Well in my experience they start laying about 3 weeks after you have come to the conclusion, that some how you got the only chickens in America that does not lay eggs! haha

Their combs should be swollen and bright red - when you first notice that, it is 3-4 weeks off of laying. If you don't have a rooster, they will begin to squat for you about two weeks before they start laying.

I would suggest opening the nests during the day, and locking them back up shortly before dark, if that is not too much of a pain. Then they are open if they lay early, and they are not sleeping in there.

 

[aart]

Open them now, to test and get them out of the habit of sleeping in them if needed before they start to lay.
Do they sleep on roosts higher than the nests?
That is often the key to clean nests.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You want them to be able to explore the boxes before laying starts so I would open them now.

 

[loulusea]

Well in my experience they start laying about 3 weeks after you have come to the conclusion, that some how you got the only chickens in America that does not lay eggs! haha

Their combs should be swollen and bright red - when you first notice that, it is 3-4 weeks off of laying. If you don't have a rooster, they will begin to squat for you about two weeks before they start laying.

I would suggest opening the nests during the day, and locking them back up shortly before dark, if that is not too much of a pain. Then they are open if they lay early, and they are not sleeping in there.

Thank you Mrs. K! Such helpful information

 

[loulusea]

You want them to be able to explore the boxes before laying starts so I would open them now.

Thank you! I had a feeling that was what I should do.

 

[loulusea]

Open them now, to test and get them out of the habit of sleeping in them if needed before they start to lay.
Do they sleep on roosts higher than the nests?
That is often the key to clean nests.

Their roosts are definitely higher than the nesting boxes. But my silkies basically sleep on the floor lol.

 

[aart]

Their roosts are definitely higher than the nesting boxes. But my silkies basically sleep on the floor lol.

Oh, I don't know how to deal with birds that don't roost.
You might have to cover the nests every day an hour or so before 'roost' time, then uncover after dark when you lock up.
Or just deal with poopy eggs or cleaning the nests daily.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Open them now, to test and get them out of the habit of sleeping in them if needed before they start to lay.

I agree with all that said to open them now. If you are going to have a problem I want to know that before I start getting poopy eggs or I teach them to lay somewhere other than the nests by having the nests blocked when they start laying.

But my silkies basically sleep on the floor lol.

Oh those lovely Silkies. I don't have any and don't want any.

Can they get in your nests? How high are the nests or do you have ramps? Are the Silkies the only ones that can't fly?

My first thought is to try it and see what happens. Deal with what you see, not what you might possibly see. Worry is interest paid before it is due. (talking mostly about your Silkies)

If you do have issues get back to us with details and photos of the nests so we can help you solve them. But until then I'd open the nests and see what happens.

 

[LaFleche]

Your Silkie could have her own private little box on the floor to sleep in.

Put one fake egg in each of your nest boxes to show your girls where to lay