Training Where To Lay Eggs

[mbshan08]

At how many weeks do i need to place an object in the nesting box for them to no where to lay eggs? And will they see this ball or fake egg and just auto. no where to start laying them?

 

[chicmom]

I never used a fake egg, and mine chose the nesting boxes just fine, but at about 17 weeks of age, I keep them locked in the coop and attached run for about half of the day, letting them out when I get home after work, at 5pm.

That way, they're done laying by the time I get home, so they don't find a secret hiding place to stash a nest outside, where I can't find it.

 

[heybarb]

I was actually going to ask a similar question, as our chicks are free ranging. How do you teach them to lay eggs in the nesting boxes? Will a golf ball or fake egg work??

 

[CarlaS]

Our chickens are free ranged but locked in a coop at night. We place a fake egg into a few of our nesting boxes roughly a week before or around the time they should be beginning to lay eggs. We have never had problems with them not finding these.