When do we undercover the nesting boxes?

[thechickfam]

Our older chicks are going to be 12 weeks old on Monday and we have the nesting boxes in their coop covered up with the sides of cardboard boxes for the time being. When is it recommended to uncover the nesting boxes and fill them with hay/fake eggs to show them where to start laying?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Our older chicks are going to be 12 weeks old on Monday and we have the nesting boxes in their coop covered up with the sides of cardboard boxes for the time being. When is it recommended to uncover the nesting boxes and fill them with hay/fake eggs to show them where to start laying?

There really is no one right answer to this - you can open them once the birds are firmly in the habit of roosting, as they near the expected point of lay (ie 18 weeks, showing physical signs of beginning to ready for production, etc) or even not until after the first egg(s) appear. Whenever you do open them, just keep an eye out for signs that they are sleeping in or fouling the nests and address any issues that do arise with some simple retraining.

 

[thechickfam]

Thank you for your response!

 

[rides2far]

X2 on that. Mine took a long time to roost on my roosting bar - 16 weeks is when they figured it out. I took down the cardboard from the nesting boxes & they pretty much ignored them. Last week I started showing them the boxes with golf balls in them. (They're so nosey)! The other day my black & red sex links were in the boxes & we just got our 1st eggs at 18 1/2 weeks old. I'm putting some little curtains up over them next week.

 

[diana507]

I have had so much going on, planning my wedding next month. Mine just got opened up today. My girls are 16 weeks old. I went down and checked after dark and they were all sleeping in their normal sleeping spots. I had put the fake easter plastic eggs in their boxes today but I think they liked their bright colors. I switched them out with golf balls tonight. Hope I get some eggs soon.

 

[rides2far]

Well, congrats on your wedding! My husband & I will have our 40th next month. To celebrate we're going to the blues festival in Mammoth, Ca. 4 days of really good blues. On one day they will have over 200 craft beers to sample. We're not big drinkers, but I imagine on a hot day, a few sips of beer will taste good. Hope your wedding day is perfect