When should I provide a nest box? *UPDATE* & QUESTION

[Robin'sBrood]

My BA is 16 weeks old now and her comb is turning from black to a light red. Her face is also starting to turn redish too. My two Millie Fleur D'uccles, who have always had flesh colored combs are starting to turn dark pink. They're 15 weeks. Does this indicate that the egg laying time is getting near? Is it time to make a nest box?

Sorry the pic is blurry but you can see her comb and face color in it.

The two MFDs, you can see the pink combs & face

 

[dixiechick]

WOW! what beautiful birds! I think I would go ahead and provide boxes..if for anything else to let them get accustomed....

 

[dixygirl]

When it's time, won't they just start laying anyhow even without a box?

 

[arlee453]

I'd wait until they start squatting. They probably wont lay for at least another 4 weeks or more. If you put the boxes in too early you run the risk of having them think they are good for sleeping. And it's difficult to break them from sleeping in the boxes. Ask me how I know... :rolleyes

You don't want them roosting in the boxes or you will have really nasty eggs and a constant clean up job.

If you do put in the boxes, just make sure they are lower than the roosts. That will encourage them to stay out of them except for laying eggs.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Their coop is a large plastic dog house. Do the nest boxes have to be in there or can I put them somewhere else? They "free range" inside of a 4' picket fence during the day so they're really only in their coop at night. I have another, even larger, dog house inside of the picket fence, should I put the nest boxes in that one?

 

[Robin'sBrood]

 

[DDRanch]

Pretty birds.

Anne

 

[JennsPeeps]

I decided just yesterday to open up 1 of the 2 the nesting boxes to get them used to seeing it open. They're just 2-3 months old now.

My girls sleep on the roosting bar so I'm not concerned about them deciding that the box is better. If they start sleeping in it, I can always block it off again and open the other one when they get closer to laying age.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Betty is 18 weeks now and for the past couple of days she has, at times, been making these weird noises and acting kind of distressed. This morning I watched her follow my roo around. They seemed to be talking to each other. He went in their coop and started scratching an area in the corner and was doing a lot of "talking" while he worked.

I'm thinking that Betty is getting ready to lay her first egg. I noticed this morning that her wattles have nearly doubled in size and are red. I went ahead and put two nest boxes out for her. Neither are in the coop (remember, it is a large plastic dog house with pine shavings on the floor.) One is a plastic tub w/ pine shavings that I put in a shady place in the run. The other is a litter box w/ pine shavings that I put in the back of the big wood dog house that is in the run. My roo promptly hopped in that dog house and had a look-see at that nest box.

It's hot and humid today but temps are supposed to go down into the upper 80s tomorrow, so maybe I'll have my first egg soon!

Duh... forgot to ask if this sounds like normal first-time egg laying behavior?

 

[Robin'sBrood]

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