Nesting box

[camire77]

I have 3 Isa browns about 13 week's old. 1 Silkie about 13 weeks 2 other Silkies about 17 weeks old. I heard it was a good idea to block the nesting box till the we're ready to use it. When should I open it up? Not sure if it matters but they do not roost yet and the nesting box is considerably lower then the roost.

 

[subhanalah]

When you notice one of your girls squatting for you or reddening of one of their combs.

 

[Jajika]

I don't know anything about blocking nesting boxes, so I never did it.

I bought a couple of fake eggs and left them in the boxes. Of course, while I had five boxes, they only used one. After they all used the box, I was able to remove the fake eggs but I still keep them around.

The squating and red comb are sure signs of egg laying behavior.

 

[aart]

I have 3 Isa browns about 13 week's old. 1 Silkie about 13 weeks 2 other Silkies about 17 weeks old. I heard it was a good idea to block the nesting box till the we're ready to use it. When should I open it up? Not sure if it matters but they do not roost yet and the nesting box is considerably lower then the roost.

I would leave them blocked until they get in the habit of roosting at night. You don't want them to get into the habit of roosting in the nests and pooping them up at night.

Surprised they are not roosting yet, can they get up to the roost easily?
You may need to install ramp so they can get up there and maybe put them up there after dark for however long it takes for them to form the habit.
Not sure about silkies roosting, have read they sometimes don't.

 

[camire77]

One of the Isa's is getting pretty red but she is the darkest of the bunch so I just figured that was the way she was. Haven't noticed any squatting but I wouldn't necessarily know what to look for. When we had them in the big box in the basement they would jump up on the edge and roost up there. That was about 2 feet tall. The board below th roost is like 3 feet I think. I put them up there once and they came right down. I will put something in there to try to help them up and will put them up tonight.

 

[subhanalah]

Sometimes you just have to give them the routine of getting up to roost every night. Wait til they are asleep then put them on their roost.

They'll get it eventually, chickens are smart.

 

[katekearby]

what if the comb is red then gets pale? Are they closer to lay or is something else going on? I've got 4 that would be about 25 weeks old, 2 have bigger and redder combs and waddles. 3 that came in last week and are now 19 weeks old. of the whole bunch of 7, 3 are squatting. 2 finally went to the hi roost last night.

What happened 2 days ago I got home late and they had all gone to bed, so I left them where they were, 2 on the hi roost, one roosting on the nest box doorway, 2 sitting on the floor by the door and 2 outside (in the hen yard under roof) on the barrel.

Darn an egg would be a nice thing.

 

[Family Farming]

Are there combs turning red to pale regularly? I have noticed a couple times that if my hens run out before I get home there combs look a little pale.

 

[katekearby]

Are there combs turning red to pale regularly? I have noticed a couple times that if my hens run out before I get home there combs look a little pale.

run out of what? I don't know if Thelma's comb is changing daily or depending on time of day, I may need to watch.

 

[Family Farming]

Sorry, run out of water