When should I setup my nest boxes?

[ELShens]

Hi All,
I have 1 buff and 2 EEs that are about 18weeks old. I have an A-frame coop with nest boxes on the ends that I have blocked right now. Is it too early to lay in some nesting material and a Golf ball or two and let them start having access? Thanks for any input.

Eddie

 

[Ruth Ann]

We added ours when they started to get red in the face.
Wasn't long after that we got eggs

Since they(chickens) are scared of anything new, it gives them time to get use to the
"new" thing in the coop.

 

[jeremy]

18 weeks is getting close to POL for certain breeds, I've heard of EEs taking up to 24 weeks though! I don't think it would be bad idea to unblock the nesting boxes to allow them to "get familiar" with the area, you might actually end up encouraging them!

 

[sprawli]

I built my boxes, attached them to the coop, and put bedding material and golf balls in them when most of my girls were around 15 weeks. They started laying about a month later... I think it really helped them to explore the boxes ahead of time and to see the "eggs" in there. When they started, I only had 2 eggs laid outside the boxes. Everything else since then has been inside them. Good luck!

 

[crawfordmama]

Quote:
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but is that a good tell-tale sign for most breeds that the time is coming?

 

[tcates]

I put in a nesting box, complete with golf ball after my RIR laid the "jelly egg" Now it has become the LITTER box! Everyone goes in there to pee and poop! Now what? It makes it nice when I clean everyday, only one spot to remove the ickies to transfer to compost pile, but what happens when 1 decides to lay an egg instead of a poop ball?

 

[Ruth Ann]

CFM...I am new to this, chicken stuff too...
but that was what we were told ...
red face...red comb...
they also start singing the egg song.

 

[ELShens]

Thanks All,
I think I'll go ahead and work on it this weekend. The "red faced" remark was good too, because I was noticing my Buff was starting to look a little different... a little more red in her face.

Eddie