I have 3 Red Sex Links that are probably about 20 weeks old now (purchased them as pullets). Their waddlers are red and pretty! Hopefully eggs soon!
Up until now, they have never even touched their nesting boxes. They are milk crates turned sideways (12 x 12 x 12). They do sleep on top of them each night. I let all three out of their run each morning to free range in the backyard (run is 4 x 8). I live in Southern California and have no real predators in my part of the woods. During the day they love eating my weeds and bugs. My backyard is pretty open and walled, so they have some good room to walk around. Every day at 5, they go back to their coop, and I close the run door.
My question is two-fold - Will they ever get in the nesting boxes? Will they know to go back to their coop to lay their eggs? Or will I get to go on a hunt each day?
Thanks! First time chicken parent
Up until now, they have never even touched their nesting boxes. They are milk crates turned sideways (12 x 12 x 12). They do sleep on top of them each night. I let all three out of their run each morning to free range in the backyard (run is 4 x 8). I live in Southern California and have no real predators in my part of the woods. During the day they love eating my weeds and bugs. My backyard is pretty open and walled, so they have some good room to walk around. Every day at 5, they go back to their coop, and I close the run door.
My question is two-fold - Will they ever get in the nesting boxes? Will they know to go back to their coop to lay their eggs? Or will I get to go on a hunt each day?
Thanks! First time chicken parent