Surviving Minnesota!

[Elise Ferguson]

My mad search skillz are failing on this board. Is there an article on here somewhere about how to prep for the first eggs?

Namely: are my chicks going to continually throw all the grass out of the nesting box? will they just "know" to go lay in there? do I assume since I have a rooster that eggs will be fertilized (if I want to let any of the hens brood)? should I put those fake eggs in the nesting box right off the bat? And all the other random things I haven't thought of yet. (they're only almost 18 weeks old now, I just like to get ahead of myself)

 

[BantyChooks]

My mad search skillz are failing on this board. Is there an article on here somewhere about how to prep for the first eggs?

Namely: are my chicks going to continually throw all the grass out of the nesting box? will they just "know" to go lay in there? do I assume since I have a rooster that eggs will be fertilized (if I want to let any of the hens brood)? should I put those fake eggs in the nesting box right off the bat? And all the other random things I haven't thought of yet. (they're only almost 18 weeks old now, I just like to get ahead of myself)

Try shavings, harder to kick out. Yes, they seem to settle after a while. I haven't had issues with birds laying outside the nest, but then again, I have never had an all pullet flock---I started with hens.

Might take a while to have all eggs fertile. Sometimes they can be right off the bat, though.

As to fake eggs, no clue. Never used them.

 

[Elise Ferguson]

Try shavings, harder to kick out. Yes, they seem to settle after a while. I haven't had issues with birds laying outside the nest, but then again, I have never had an all pullet flock

Might take a while to have all eggs fertile. Sometimes they can be right off the bat, though.

As to fake eggs, no clue. Never used them.

I think I'll add another board to the bottom of the boxes to make them a little more enclosed and they'll eventually go up on the wall a bit I think. My thinking with the grass was that it was something different than the shavings already on the floor, so they would hopefully not lay all over the coop. Though I might put some straw down this winter to keep it a little warmer in there. So my thoughts might be moot

 

[BantyChooks]

I think I'll add another board to the bottom of the boxes to make them a little more enclosed and they'll eventually go up on the wall a bit I think. My thinking with the grass was that it was something different than the shavings already on the floor, so they would hopefully not lay all over the coop. Though I might put some straw down this winter to keep it a little warmer in there. So my thoughts might be moot

Haven't had issues with that, but maybe MN chickens are dumber than VWN chickens

 

[Elise Ferguson]

Haven't had issues with that, but maybe MN chickens are dumber than VWN chickens

Heh just trying to be preemptive. Apparently my husband had chickens as a kid and they would not lay in the coop, they would only lay all over the yard. I'm hoping he didn't tell these chicks about that, I don't need an easter egg hunt every day.

 

[BantyChooks]

Heh just trying to be preemptive. Apparently my husband had chickens as a kid and they would not lay in the coop, they would only lay all over the yard. I'm hoping he didn't tell these chicks about that, I don't need an easter egg hunt every day.

Weird, my birds all lay in the boxes. Maybe they're too well mannered to copy the southerner's behaviour.

 

[duluthralphie]

I use fake eggs (golf balls) Some will use them, some will kick them out. Give them time they will find the nests if they are locked into a run. I would not free range while they are learning to lay or you may never find the eggs.

As far as nesting material, they are forever throwing it out. I am thinking of getting those fake straw pads to put in there. The washable ones....The only hitch there was Judy. She says I can't wash them in the washing machine......When I said I could use the dishwasher she went full on crazy... I will never understand women...

 

[BantyChooks]

When I said I could use the dishwasher she went full on crazy... I will never understand women...

I thought you were the germaphobe here??

 

[DwayneNLiz]

I think I'll add another board to the bottom of the boxes to make them a little more enclosed and they'll eventually go up on the wall a bit I think. My thinking with the grass was that it was something different than the shavings already on the floor, so they would hopefully not lay all over the coop. Though I might put some straw down this winter to keep it a little warmer in there. So my thoughts might be moot

higher sides on the nesting boxes, they will still try to dig a pit but at least its contained, my best nest boxes are milk crates with hay in them
and yes the fake eggs really do help!!

 

[duluthralphie]

I think I'll add another board to the bottom of the boxes to make them a little more enclosed and they'll eventually go up on the wall a bit I think. My thinking with the grass was that it was something different than the shavings already on the floor, so they would hopefully not lay all over the coop. Though I might put some straw down this winter to keep it a little warmer in there. So my thoughts might be moot

I tried grass, it went on the floor faster than chips do. Try cedar chips in the nest to keep bugs down and it is a tad different...JUST do not let them hatch chicks on cedar.