Newbie...Why do people put golfballs in nest houses???

[EGG3435]

My girls are only 13 weeks old so maybe they are not interested in their nesting box yet. I saw a picture of someone putting golf balls in the nest. What are the golfballs for?


A pic of my favorite girl Dixie a few days old.

 

[Rebel Rooster]

The golf balls look enough like real eggs to encourage the new pullets to lay in the nest...

 

[noodleroo]

The golf balls are 'decoy' eggs. They show the chickens where to lay their eggs. Adorable pic, by the way...

 

[EGG3435]

Thanks, that is what i thought. when should i put them in the nest? They are 13 weeks old now and have no interest in the nests at all.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Quote:
x2

DH put green golf balls in there to encourage our Gold Comets to lay green eggs ... didn't work for some reason

 

[rnoyster]

Quote:
x2

DH put green golf balls in there to encourage our Gold Comets to lay green eggs ... didn't work for some reason

I put neon orange golf balls in the nests and my Orpington hens nearly stripped a gear trying to lay eggs the same colors!!!!

 

[noodleroo]

Quote:
Mine started laying at 20 weeks. Their combs and wattles will get 'redder' when they are getting ready to lay. I don't think it really matters when you do it or if you even do it at all. It just gives them the idea to lay where you want them to...

 

[feathersnuggles]

Besides encouraging them to lay in the nest, the fake eggs or golf balls also help keep hens from pecking open their own eggs. Egg layers do a lot of beak-tapping in the nest, and a hard fake egg or two can help to discourage them from hammering down hard on stuff in the nest, including real eggs.

 

[PepsNick]

Quote:
The earliest a hen will lay is 15 weeks, and Silkies won't typically lay that early. They'll probably lay in the 20-something weeks. Wooden eggs (that aren't hollow) and actual work a lot better. Just make sure to mark them to you don't get them mixed up with the REAL first egg. I'd put them in at 17-18 weeks.

edited for typos

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I have 4 nest boxes and made 4 fake eggs out of water putty. They are almost the same color as my chickens eggs - just not quite as perfect. The chickens don't know the difference.