Orpintons and eggs

[countryboy1]

Quote:
My BO's are about 8 months old and just got my first egg from them the other day. But my RIR's keep me fromgoing in debt.

 

[bearz]

My big big chickens like the 3gallon pails. The round ones. They won't lay in anything else. Just a thought instead of doing all that work making nesting boxes.

 

[Cherokeerainbow]

I just stuck an old horse feeder bucket in there with some hay in it.

YES! ditto here...
I have very nice boxes my Dh made for me...yet they all fight over the old corner feeder with the hay in it.
I've even watched one hen dance around on the floor in front of the 'occupied' feeder as if try to say "geez, would you hurry up already? It's my turn!"
Meanwhile the nice wooden boxes are empty...​

 

[blessedchickenmama7]

We use 5 gallon buckets with the lids cut down to about 1/2. They get in and out... Since we've only had one egg (not in the nest

) I can't say they work. But my chickens sure do love to get in there and "fix" it up.

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
I thought this was the coolest idea since sliced bread.
So last year I went out and bought 5 - 5 gallon buckets
Only thing is.. my chickens can't even fit in them, with or without bedding!!! I never even tried to make them... there is just NO WAY they would fit.

I use 10 gallon tote boxes now.. 2 can barely squeeze in but they do try.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

We made nesting boxes out of dresser drawers we found on the curb. They work great...when they use them. They prefer to lay behind the door (which is propped open). My BO's started laying at 17 weeks but they are nowhere near as good of layers as our other hens. But they are prettier

 

[shaggy]

Quote:
you've got the best looking BO hens

 

[newchickmom]

I have 6 BO hens that are 18 months old and started laying at about 6 months. 2 are getting ready to become chick and noodles since they STILL have never laid a single egg.
I have 23 Delawares that are 7 months old and only 1 is still not laying, and most of them have been laying for a couple of months now.
My 16 Australorps are going to be thinned out also. They are about 2 1/2 years old and only 4 are laying right now, but I'm not sure which ones because all but 5 of them have red combs and 2 are brooding with chicks right now.