Two questions

[chess0125]

Question number one - my pullets are 18+ weeks old and still no eggs! They are all red sex link. When can I expect eggs? The comb/wattle on one are growing big and red and bright/dangley, but no crouching when I approach yet. The others are behind even that comb growth. But I'm so impatient!! Soon, right??

Question number two - I have nest boxes with fake eggs and curtains all set up and ready to go. The curtains prevent sleeping in the nest but I'm wondering if the chickens will know to lay there or will they lay somewhere else? Every morning I go scour the coop Hopefully but no egg signs anywhere yet. Will the first eggs appear in the nest box?

 

[rides2far]

My 2 sex links just started laying at 18 weeks. They were squatting for a couple of weeks 1st. I don't have curtains on my nest boxes right now. You might want to remove them temporarily. I actually put the chickens in the nest box. They shot right out, but it kind of showed them they could go in there. I now have one more laying, but all 3 eggs have been soft shelled. 2 were laid in the poop tray (gross), but the last was in the nest box. Now, if they will just harden up.

 

[beckycrouch5115]

I have 7 rhode island hens that are 22 weeks and only 2 are laying and one leghorn who is a few weeks younger and hasn't laid yet. All have bright red combs and wattles, only sit when i put a hand out so my guess they are the two laying. i dont have curtains up. i put fake eggs in the nest boxes and the chickens started checking it out a few weeks ago and then a week later got my first and second egg. they laid right in the box. i guess they like to lay where other eggs are. maybe take the curtains down until they get the hang of it. but ive also been told they'll lay where they want to lay!