sitting in the nest boxes

[asooomaa]

hi all
I have 7 chickens who are nearly 18 weeks old, they didn't lay yet, but they sit for a long time in the
nest boxes , what's the matter ??

 

[ozark hen]

Sounds like they are practicing

 

[asooomaa]

does it mean that they will lay eggs soon ??

 

[Plain Old Dee]

Don't hold your breath - mine have been practising for three months, and still no eggs!

 

[OrpingtonManor]

they just like the comfy quarters.

(Be careful or they'll sleep in there, and get the bad habit of pooping in the nest boxes.)

 

[PortageGirl]

18 wks is a bit young to start laying, so I think they just like the nest boxes. That's good because if they like them, they'll be more likely to use them for laying... but OrpingtonManor is right, try to keep them going up on their roosts at night. You can go in after dark and move any that are trying to sleep in the boxes up to the roosts.

What breeds do you have? Some lay sooner than others, but this time of year it seems unlikely, I think they just like them which is good.