is 16 weeks a good time to open the nest boxes?

[backdoorchicken]

i have 5 EEs that are 15 weeks. i was reading how some folks are getting eggs at 16, 17, 18, etc weeks. should i look into opening the nest boxes up in the next week or so?

 

[Happy Chooks]

That's about the time I put my nest boxes in. I put a golf ball in the nest box just in case they didn't know where to lay. I got my first egg at 19 weeks and it was in the nest box.

 

[backdoorchicken]

Quote:
and when did you change the feed? (weeks)

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
and when did you change the feed? (weeks)

About 13 weeks. The lady at the feed shop recommended it, so I switched them.

 

[backdoorchicken]

cool. i am almost out of the bag i bought before so i guess now is a good time to switch.

thank you for your help.

 

[chookchick]

Yep I had one start laying at 15 1/2 weeks! Came home one day and there was an egg in the middle of the run. Had to make up an emergency nest out of a recycling bin for her. One other one is getting close now, (squatting, checking out the nest) at 18 weeks. And the original one is laying full-sized eggs now--ouch! Also put some oystershell out so they can beef up the calcium if they need it.

 

[cmom]

I had a couple of pullets that started laying at 17 weeks. The first one I was lucky as the nest boxes were put in a week before she started laying. I also put golf balls in the nest boxes and have never had any problem with them laying their eggs anywhere else.