When should I open up my nest boxes?

[will hunt for food]

Hey folks. Our birds are around 13 weeks old, and are doing great. I have 3 nest boxes in the coop (with outside access) that are closed off with a cardboard "wall". I did this so the birds would not sleep in there and dirty them up. All the hens now use the roost (except for my lone Silkie).

Two questions:

I am wondering when I should open up the boxes?

Should I line them with pine shavings like the coop, or use shavings and straw to make it different from the coop, and more desirable to nest in.

 

[briana1975]

I really don't know what the 'right' way may be. But we put our nest boxes in last week at age 15 weeks. All of the chickens roost but the silkies. I have wood shavings in ours and golf balls, which cracks my family up. No one is laying and no one is sleeping or roosting in them. The golf balls have been moved around so someone has been checking them out.

 

[MontanaMomma]

I am new to this chicken business, but my advice is: They'll tell you when to open the next boxes. You'll find an egg in an unlikely place, or maybe a partially formed egg. Bingo- open up those nest boxes. Or look online to see when your particular breed usually begins laying and open them up then. If you open it too early, no harm will come of it, just maybe a mess to clean up. I use pine shavings in our nest and they like it just fine but they tend to kick them out and lay their eggs on the bare wood when it is all kicked out, so maybe straw works better-I'm not sure. I clip my Leghorns' wings too, so the cut feathers go in the nest box too to protect those beautiful eggs. Good luck!

 

[Branderella]

I dont know when to move the"wall" but I would put the same in the box as one the floor, it will make less of a mess. My chickens scratch the hay out so I have to push it back it, i think they think its funny

 

[michickenwrangler]

I was wondering the same thing.

I use white pine needles for bedding but should I use straw or grass in the nest box?

 

[OutdoorFun4]

My oldest birds are 16 weeks. I am planning on taking down the cardboard barrier this weekend. I will be trying straw in the nest boxes. I will put golf balls in at the same time.

I am a bit concerned about the straw because of mites. I may end up using hay and changing it every few weeks. Some use Spanish moss, but I'm in Maine.

I will let you know how it goes.

 

[kcfuerst]

I would say to open it up the first time one of the girls squats when you reach down to touch her. Within a week or two she will begin to lay.

I did that and all of my eggs have been in the nest from the beginning. (about 15 weeks) Got my first egg at 16.5 weeks from a Black Sexlink.

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
How cool! Mine are going on 15 weeks old. My dh just made the nesting boxes last weekend. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!