Should I start opening the nesting boxes even if i havnt seen eggs?

[Happy Chooks]

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I have done that since my first chickens started laying. I call it musical nest boxes.

It's hilarious to see them move to the box with the fake egg in it.

 

[ChicksterJo]

What if you also have a few 11 week olds and they keep climbing into the nest box and kicking up the nesting material?

 

[7L Farm]

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Their just curious probably looking for a bug. I would leave them be they will at least learn that the eggs belong in the boxes. Don't close the boxes . why would you do that if that's where you want your eggs. Position your roost higher than the boxes & they will lay in the boxes. Chickens lay eggs so when it comes time to lay they will have discovered where they go but if you close the boxes they will not know.

 

[ChiknPamperor107]

I opened them up today and put golf balls in and they threw the bedding EVERYWHERE! And I have NOOO idea where the golf balls went...WHAT THE HECK BIRDS! ALL I WANT IS SOME EGGS!

 

[cmom]

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I would block the nest boxes until the birds have red combs and wattles and start squatting which is an indication they they will soon start laying. Don't let them get used to getting in the nest boxes or you will get poopy eggs. When the time comes to open up the nest boxes put either golf balls or fake eggs in them. I use either spanish moss or course pine shavings in my nest boxes.

 

[ChiknPamperor107]

So do I wait until I start seeing eggs, because only a couple of them have red combs and wattles.

 

[7L Farm]

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If you wait till your seeing eggs they won't be in the boxes. I think after reading all these threads about when to open the boxes that most people are having trouble with their chickens sleeping in them, pooping in them because their boxes aren't positioned right. I could be wrong but I've never closed mine ever & have never had these problems that I constantly read about. Here's mine this coop was designed by my grandfathers care taker its probably 50 years old. I did remodel but kept his design. The boxes are almost three feet off the ground. I have since built another coop & used the same design with the same results. I do agree that the roost needs to be higher than the boxes & positioned on a different wall in the coop.

 

[ChiknPamperor107]

I got my first one today!! Im soooo excited. I actually found it under the roost. It is very squishy.

IM SO HAPPY!!

 

[johnnyg07]

i have heard both ...which is better raised nests or on the floor..my house is 2 feet off the ground withh a ramp and the nest box is a double for 4 hensno eggs yet but the usualy sleep on top .....if i raise it up will they just hop in or do they need a ramp also do they need a lot of room in the nest i have 2 pullets which seem like they will fit fine but my 2 barred rocks are a little older and bigger should i take the top off the box so they can stand or just try a bigger box...i think that the 2 pullets should start laying verry soon and the 2 older ones might be moulting....ive had them for 4 weeks and not 1 egg....how long does moulting last and would the height have an effect ide think if they cant fit that they would just lay their eggs in the cornor or something so i am mmore prone to take action once i start gettiong eggs but as im going in for surgery nextweek i dont know how long ill be layed up for and i know that as soon as im not able 2 devote as much time with them i will prob start getting my eggs ...things always work out like that ....any ideas?????thank you every1 has been so helpful so far with the start up and now its just a waiting game of trial and error....im thinking of buying 2 more(maby red commets?) i will buy these ones as current layers so i can get an idea of what to expect.....

 

[johnnyg07]

any1????