How long should we leave the golf balls in the nesting boxes?

[Kathleen1115]

We put them in there to get the girls to lay in the boxes -- which they've all done perfectly. Five out of six are now laying and I'm wondering if we should leave the golf balls in the boxes or if it will start to confuse them or cause them to go broody. They really seem to like them -- always make sure the golf balls are tucked under them while they lay. It's very cute, but will it lead to problems?

 

[Louieandthecrew]

I think you are ready to take them out

The golfballs aren't the reasen for the one unlaying hen, or course.

 

[Mrs. K]

I leave mine in all the time. I never take them out, hens like to lay were someone else has laid, they seem to think "oh, this must be a good spot"

As for making them broody, that is an act of fate. It won't cause broodyness, I tried putting a clutch together last summer to get a hen to go, and nothing. Went back to my one fake egg in the nest, and 2 months later, I got a broody. Some hens will, and some hens won't, and they do it on their time table!

Mrs K

 

[woodmort]

I too, never take them out. When I collect the eggs out from under a hen sitting in the nest it gives her a feeling there is still something under her so she stays. If they're going to go broody, they will regardless of where there are artificial or real eggs under them.

 

[EweSheep]

Mrs. K :

I leave mine in all the time. I never take them out, hens like to lay were someone else has laid, they seem to think "oh, this must be a good spot"

As for making them broody, that is an act of fate. It won't cause broodyness, I tried putting a clutch together last summer to get a hen to go, and nothing. Went back to my one fake egg in the nest, and 2 months later, I got a broody. Some hens will, and some hens won't, and they do it on their time table!

Mrs K

2x

Not only golf balls, I've used marble (rock) eggs from Hobby Lobby. Great stuff!​

 

[rancher hicks]

Just because.


I use wooden eggs, the color of the eggs my girls lay, which is brown. I have a white one for my leghorn who is in a separate pen.

I leave them there 24/7 just in case any of the chickens get it in their head to eat an egg. Of course I need to wash the occasional dirty decoy, but as I see it, it can't hurt and may help prevent trouble.
One problem I do think causes but may not, is hens may tend to go broody more. Right now I have a CM that I keep removing from the nest and she's sitting on a wooden goose egg. Size doesn't matter for the decoy as long as it's not to small and is the color the girls will recognize. No finish on the eggs either.

Wish you the best.

Rancher