when do you add nesting boxes?

[buffs only]

I just got my chicks on Monday and won't be moving them to their outdoor coop for a few more weeks, here in the metro Atlanta area our weather is starting to get nice, not counting the violent storms that came through Monday night. Might I add that they knocked my power out for 15 hours and I was sweeting it that my chicks didn't have their heat lamps for that long, but they huddled together and seem fine. I got buff orps ( 30 in all and one free mystery chick, you don't think McMurray would have given me a rooster as my mystery chick since I got all pullets do you? ) and from what I read they won't start laying until about 24-26 weeks old, I don't want to put nesting boxes out to soon in fear that they might want to sleep and poop in them and not use them for the right reasons. When do you think I should add nesting boxes to my coop? Thanks for your feedback.

Buffs only in Conyers GA

 

[chuckzoo]

You are right about putting the nesting boxes out too early, it is better to wait. They will establish where to sleep in the meantime.
I put mine out right before I expected my hens to start laying, around 20-25 weeks. I also added a fake egg that I got at Hobby Lobby so they got the idea. All my eggs have been in the nesting box next to the fake egg

 

[Judy]

I had one start laying the other day at 17 weeks and 4 days -- in the nest, yet. Although that was unusual, 20 weeks is not. Henderson's says orps are "moderately early maturing." FWIW.

So -- I would probably put a couple of nests in there around 18 weeks. Yes, a couple, they will start at different times and you might want to put one in a spot in the coop that they pick to lay, or put a different kind in, say open top instead of front, or lower rather than higher. Mine are picky.

Chances of the mystery chick being a roo? Pretty high. Actually, the chances one of your orps being a roo are pretty good, too.

 

[Billyj]

I think it kinda depends on where or what type your nest boxes will be. Mine are accessable from the outside, (external boxes) so when I built my coop, I had to put them in then. Didn't want to go back, and cut a new opening in the side of the coop to build a nest box. Plus I fussed and cussed the whole time building it, I was not going to that again. If you will have a big enough coop to be able to enter, or small enough where you just have an egg door, then I agree that you need to wait a while.

 

[dbounds10]

My coop is being built right now and the externally attached nest boxes are already in. Should I put a cover or something on them until it gets closer to laying time to keep them from sleeping and pooping in them?

 

[buffs only]

BillyJ, the nest boxes will be on the inside of a large walk in coop ( I borrowed the plan from the "large coop plans" here on BYC, and made my own modifications to make my free materials work ), so I will be able to add them when needed. thanks for the imput

 

[remington3006]

i normaly just put them in there with golf balls and when you build it and put the nests lower than the roosts min always stay out of them until they need them. and it is very posible they sent you a free roo.i got a mix of 5 diff breeds and orderd some buttercups and bough 1 buttercup roo and they sent me another buttercup roo.