Nesting boxes

[yelim]

At what age should I provide nesting boxes? I have 7 at 12 weeks and 16 at 14 weeks.

 

[Judy]

They usually start laying at 18 to 22 weeks.

 

[yelim]

Should I wait for first egg before opening nest boxes?

 

[Judy]

I wouldn't. If they sleep in them you could close them at night, but open during the day so they can check them out and get used to them.

Are they sleeping on the roosts? you want them to be, when laying starts. You can set them up there every night at dark if they are not.

 

[yelim]

They go into the coop every night but are not roosting on the roosting boards. The roost on the floor. I have the nest boxes fenced off because one was roosting on top of nesting box cover.

 

[Judy]

If they aren't silkies, or some breed that doesn't roost, you need to put them on the roosts after they settle down for the night.