Opening Nesting Box's

[cajun1]

My RSL's are going on 12 weeks old right now. I have the nesting box's blocked off, but am wondering about when I should open them up to the girls? I'm thinking about 16 weeks old or should I wait longer ? Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated, Thanks.

 

[lazy gardener]

My RSL's are going on 12 weeks old right now. I have the nesting box's blocked off, but am wondering about when I should open them up to the girls? I'm thinking about 16 weeks old or should I wait longer ? Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated, Thanks.

I'm not an expert... just getting back into poultry after a 25 year hiatus. However, my recommendation would be to open them when the girls start to show signs that they are nearing POL. Their combs and faces will redden and put on some growth. They will start to squat when you approach them. Otherwise, you won't go wrong opening the box at 15 - 16 weeks, or sooner if they show any of the above signs. They'll check the nests out before they start laying, make some practice nests, may start singing the egg song before the first egg. The one thing you need to watch for is them sleeping in the boxes. Definitely want to discourage that!! So much fun to watch them figuring out the egg laying routine. Mine started laying at 16.5 - 18 weeks. BSL, RIR, EE. 4/5 were all laying the same week.