Nesting box

[Beachykeen]

Hello- my girls should start laying in March or April. My question is;should I wait until they start to lay before I put the nest box in the coop? I have read many posts that say to block off the nest so they don't get into the habit of sleeping in or roosting on the nest box. They seem to already have a spot they like to gather in on the coop floor and I'm thinking why fight nature. I will put a box there when they start to lay. What do you think?

 

[dolphinlvr4]

Mine are going to start next mo too and I was also told to hold off on the box til they are close to laying. I plan on using 5 gal buckets so I can clean them easier. I just recently put just one in the coop on its side of course. They love it n use it off n on but for the most part they still use thier roost. My advice is to do ur boxes the first wk of march. That way they get used to them but don't get to comfy w them before they start laying. Good luck!

 

[soot87]

Wait what's wrong with them sleeping in the next box?

 

[carmelchickie]

Poop on eggs lol you have to clean the nest boxes and the eggs alot more if they sleep there lol anyways you could place the next boxes in whenever really but its best to somehow block them off at night for a while just to make sure they don't get into that habit

 

[dolphinlvr4]

So, since mine (I have 3) are getting ready in to lay. Should be in march, it's fine for them to sleep in the 5 gal bucket I use as a nesting box? Will that make the other two start laying elsewhere? I do plan on putting one more bucket in there next mo too. 2 buckets is plenty for only 3 hens right?

 

[nbenevento]

1 bucket is plenty for all 3 hens. 5 or 6 hens will all share 1 nest without much problem.

 

[dolphinlvr4]

That's good too know cuz I have 3 chicks that I'll add too my flock as soon as they are big enuff. So I'll have 2 buckets for 6 hens. My girls aren't the sharpest pencils in the box but they r very sweet. I figure I'll use 2 just to make sure they don't get lazy n lay an egg off their roost. Lol. My friend had a hen do that dailey for about a month! Uuuuug...

 

[carmelchickie]

Oh no I can only imagine what a drag that was!

 

[Angel16]

Hello, i'm getting ready to lay hens very soon and wondered how long will it be after i get them till they lay?

 

[ChckenBoy13]

Hello- my girls should start laying in March or April. My question is;should I wait until they start to lay before I put the nest box in the coop? I have read many posts that say to block off the nest so they don't get into the habit of sleeping in or roosting on the nest box. They seem to already have a spot they like to gather in on the coop floor and I'm thinking why fight nature. I will put a box there when they start to lay. What do you think?

I never have had problems with my chickens sleeping in the nesting boxes (it's a different story for my duck), so I would say go ahead and add them and see how it works out! If they start to sleep in them, block it off. If not, leave it open to them and see what they do! Good luck!

Hello, i'm getting ready to lay hens very soon and wondered how long will it be after i get them till they lay?

Do you mean chicks? If you are getting chicks, it'll be about 6 months before they begin to lay. For more, click on the "Chicken Boy" in my signature!