Nest boxes

[@migocontodos~]

Quote:
I am assuming by roost, you mean something for them to walk on and land on in front of the nest boxes?

At 19 weeks of age, your pullets are getting close to the point of lay and with them free ranging you can bet some of them will start laying elsewhere and never go to the nest boxes. If this happens, you will eventually have to coop them in the run/coop for a week or more to reacclimate them to where you want them to lay anyway.

As long as all of them are going to the coop to roost, you should have no problems in confining them when the time comes however, personally, I'd keep them confined to later in the laternoons so if one slips an egg in on you, she will lay it in the nest box. Once they have started laying in the boxes, you can cut the hole for them and they will come and go as they please and continue to lay in the nest boxes (this only happens in a perfect chicken world, there will be 1 or 2 who will rather lay out somewhere)

So, confining them does help you control where they will begin to lay.

Todd

 

[@migocontodos~]

Quote:
OK . any signs of when hens are approaching time to start laying for the 1st. time ?
I have 3 hens that are not laying yet . I am assuming they are 4 months old , MAYBE close to 5 months . NOT sure . Hubby came home with 6 Rhode Island Reds . 3 ALREADY were laying and we assumed the other 3 would not be far behind . nothing YET ?
We know our 29 teens will be awhile before they lay . They are about 13 weeks old , combinations of RIR's , Black Austrolorps , and Rocks .

Actually question is for the 3 RIR's .................... WHAT SIGNS IF ANY before they lay ?

As they get closer to point of lay, watch their combs and they will turn a brighter color red, also, some will spend time in the nesting boxes just sitting there. It's like they know what they are supposed to be doing, but no egg!
I had RIR's and Aussies and it was closer to 22 weeks before some of those girls laid.
"a watched pot never boils"
That little saying applies to pullets too lol!

 

[sweetshoplady]

I believe that they will also squat for you when it is close to time to lay. I know that I had one of my 20 week old Delaware's squat for me (even though I have a roo) and her little comb and wattles are developing more and more. So I think she's getting pretty close.

 

[crooked stripe]

sweepshoplady I do have a small access door for coop entry. It has a ramp they use a couple times a day to access food. The sleeping roost is some 3 foot higher than the nest boxes and is on the opposite wall, no poo on the nest boxes. I will post some pics as soon as I get a chance. John

 

[cajunlizz]

I never put food in the coop . NEVER


Always plenty of water , but they eat only outside in the run area .

 

[crooked stripe]

What is the reason in no food in the coop. In the winter there are days when temps never go above the low teens and the flock stays in the coop for days on end. Not locked in they just don't come out. Nice to have food and unfrozen water handy. John

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
Thats depending on where YOU LIVE :
well, I will say for NOW that its SO HOT I will not be putting food in the coop . Chickens are like human babies , the MORE they eat , the more they POOP . TRUST ne they are NOT unnurished .
FLIES , MITES , Flea's , ETC. would take over that coop if I allowed food in there as hot and humid as it is here . I do put large container of water for them at night tho . They eat enough all day long outside in the run .
Besides , WE DO NOT ever have bad winters , MAYBE a few nights in the 25 - 30's


I guess in the winter time I will have to make different arrangements for the food IF AND WHEN its COLD . BUT right now , NO NEED to have food inside at night . ESP. since they are only in there to lay and sleep .

Thank God we never have to worry about SNOW & ICE here in the deep South .