the just began to squat

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auntmaryshere

auntmaryshere

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I'm feeling excited. 3 of our girls 2 new hampshires and our rhode island red just began to squat.... our first Squatting chickens.. they will be 5 month's on July 19th. Doesn't this mean I'll be getting an egg soon? Also is it normal for them to poo in their nesting boxes? Thanks
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Depends what you mean by 'squat'. When females come of age they may squat for the males to mate them. Otherwise they do like to start to inhabit the nest in preparation to lay. Ideally chickens are best off not sleeping in their nest box, which is the main way they will end up 'pooping' there. Ensure they have a perch to roost on and go and look in the dark to see if they go up there. If not, place them there yourself after dark for a few nights and they will get the idea.

Hope this helps. Anyone else?
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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Congrats on the squatters! Yes, you need to head off to your feed store now and get some layer feed and oystershell. Get them all on layer feed now and you can put the oystershell in a separate feeder or tub for them to eat as needed.

If they are pooping in the nest boxes they are probably sleeping in them. So you need to stop this. Make sure they are sleeping on the roost bars at night. Close off the nest boxes at night so they can't sleep in them. Just make sure to open the boxes up each morning.

Get the boxes all cleaned out and new bedding. Put some fake eggs in the boxes now so the pullets know where to lay their eggs. These hard eggs will also help them to understand eggs are impenetrable as they will play with them. When they figure out eggs are hard and you can't get into them, they are less likely to mess with the real eggs leading to egg eating.

Enjoy all those eggs!! They should be coming down the pipes soon!!
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Yay! Those squatters will soon be layers! Yes, get them calcium right away and make sure they have layer feed and water.

Like Two Crows said, it's not good for them to sleep and poop in the nests because then that discourages them from laying in there. Make sure the roosts are higher than the nests, (chickens sleep in whatever is highest) put fake eggs in the nests so they see that's for eggs only, hang curtains or simply block off the nests in the evening. (You'll have to open them up bright and early in the morning though as morning is the top time for a hen to lay.)

Feel free to ask any other questions!
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! X4, looks like you'll be getting some eggs soon! Also make sure your roosts are easy for them to get on/off of, often having staggered roosts or a ladder for them to get up helps encourage them to roost.
 
Yes I have the 2 staggering from one another so it's easier for them to jump or fly to one another. It's hard to c from this angel.
 
Welcome to BYC! You're received some info from other BYC members. It's always exciting when you get those first eggs. Good luck with your flock.
 
Alright
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great to have you joining the BYC flock
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BYC has a very useful learning center
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Doing a poo in the nesting box is a no, no so unless your pullets are producing egg's there is no reason for them to be in the nesting box's at all and yes you will be getting egg's soon so keep an eye out and put some fake egg's in the box's so they know where to go .....













One of my pullets at 23 weeks started hatching out chicks ...
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gander007
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