My first egg!! Yay!!

[Australorp Chook]

A few days ago, we bought 2 cat litter boxes to use as nest boxes. The chickens were a bit weary of them, but got more confident each day. So yesterday, I went in the coop with them hoping to grow their confidence more, and not in, but right next to the nest box, they had dug a hole in the straw. I was so excited to see a small orange egg in that hole! I’ve taken the lids off the nest boxes, so now there’s just the trays filled with pine shavings. I’m hoping that they seem less intimidating now, and that the chooks use them, but we’ll see!

 

[WingItRanch]

Yay!!! Congratulations! Do you have fake eggs in the nest boxes to encourage them to use them?

 

[Australorp Chook]

Yay!!! Congratulations! Do you have fake eggs in the nest boxes to encourage them to use them?

Thank you Yes, I do have fake eggs in the nest boxes.

Should I put both of them in the same nest box?

This is where they laid the egg yesterday.

Andddd yesterday they had these lids on. I’ve taken them off since.

Thanks for your time

 

[WingItRanch]

Nope! 1 fake eggs per box will do. Give them some time and they'll eventually know when the "urge" hits them and can make it to the box.

I notice you have fine shavings in the nest boxes but straw as your regular bedding. I have the opposite. If they don't figure it out after a while, try using the same bedding material inside the nest boxes. And honestly, they may like the lids on. It's instinct for them to want to be protected when laying so the lids might provide that coziness and privacy.

 

[Daisy June]

A few days ago, we bought 2 cat litter boxes to use as nest boxes. The chickens were a bit weary of them, but got more confident each day. So yesterday, I went in the coop with them hoping to grow their confidence more, and not in, but right next to the nest box, they had dug a hole in the straw. I was so excited to see a small orange egg in that hole! I’ve taken the lids off the nest boxes, so now there’s just the trays filled with pine shavings. I’m hoping that they seem less intimidating now, and that the chooks use them, but we’ll see!

View attachment 4013003

What an exciting time! And what about those tiny precious eggs. OMGosh I live in Florida and it's a bit chilly right now, so I made homemade curtains for my chickens coop door. They like the privacy while they're laying their eggs. I pull the curtains closed to fend off the wind during the night, and pull the curtains about half way across to give them fresh air and privacy during their egg-laying minutes. Have you heard the egg song from anyone yet? It's such a fun sound.

 

[Australorp Chook]

Thank you, we’ll put the lids on in a couple of days maybe if they still aren’t using it, and will try using straw for the nesting boxes too. They squawk really loudly during the day, but I’m not sure if that’s their egg song. They did it this morning and I went down to check but no egg Oh well Thanks for your replies!

 

[Sally PB]

Congratulations! First eggs are magical.

 

[WarWagon]

Congratulations!

 

[Australorp Chook]

Thanks, it was an exciting moment! Hoping for another today, and if not, hopefully tomorrow

 

[Australorp Chook]

We got a second egg today!!! However, it was still in the little hole they created. We’ve re-positioned the nest box so it now faces the hole and put the lid back on. We’ve also buried it deeper in the straw so it’s easier to get into, and put some straw in it. Our five Australorps are called Barbara, Clara, Amelia Egghart, Matilda and Jalfrezi. We think Jalfrezi is the egg layer as she’s the only one squatting. Also, we heard the egg song