How to prepare for egglaying

[cboriskin]

Ok, today marks the day my two orpingtons should be mature enough to lay. I understand some can be earlier or later, so I am patiently waiting. We added two inches to the doorway of the nesting boxes so it is higher than the roost. They were still going in to sleep, so we were blocking it during the late afternoon and clearing it after dark once they were roosting. I decided to put some plastic eggs in the boxes as suggested on this site. Since then, they have not gone in, but once. How deep should the shavings in the box be? Anything else I need to do?

 

[mikecnorthwest]

I think the only thing left to do is be patient. Mother nature will take care of the rest for you. When a hen starts to lay varies not only by breed but by time of year they mature. And even within the same breed it varies by individual hen.

 

[cboriskin]

Wait, I will do. It's hard to be patient when you've waited so long.

 

[cboriskin]

One of the girls had her first egg!!! It was small, but I am so proud! I am almost certain it is Lucy since she is the one with the larger, bright red comb.