When to add nest box

[ChickenCanoe]

I hope this is the right place for this question - maybe should have posted in breeds.
Anyway I have a group of new birds 15 weeks old and I'm keeping too many to add to the hen coop. How long dare I wait to add nest boxes. They are in a coop with run originally intended as a grow out area for meat birds but I think I'll just add nests. I would have done it already but at -5 degrees and over a foot of snow and ice, construction is tough right now.
The breeds that will be laying in there are Anconas, Minorca, Partridge Rocks, Wellsummer, Polish, Ameracauna, Wyandotte and Jaerhons in the group.
I know Anconas and Jaerhons are very early maturing.

 

[Martin Grove Farm]

At 15 weeks, I think I'd be adding the boxes now. Give them a chance to investigate them.

 

[teach1rusl]

I agree...I like for them to have time to investigate. You probably have at least two or three weeks, especially due to this time of year. And you don't have to build...milk crates shored up a bit or something similar either on the floor or affixed to a simple plank shelf would work - at least temporarily until the weather permits more permanent construction.

 

[patandchickens]

If it were me, I would add them fairly soon but keep an eye on whether they seem to be sleeping (pooing) in the boxes. If they do start doing that, I'd block them off (either every night, or just block them off *period*) til I got my first egg and then reopen them with a fake nestegg in each box.

But that said, I do not think it matters a *whole* lot, so you can probably pretty-safely do whatever you please

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[gsim]

Just make sure that the roost is higher than the nests are. They are not likely to spend much time in them that way. I would do one nest for every 5 or 6 chooks. That is all you will need realistically. They will share a nest, and in fact will have a favorite that you cannot understand why. I have seen even 3 at a time in my nests, and I have 12 nests for 24 chooks, way too many. Mine started laying at 13 weeks, but they are different breed than yours are. You need them now.

Gerry

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Thanks all. I guess I'll get'er done now. Always something to do.
Gerry, I was wondering what kind you had that started at 13 weeks? I had a Jaerhon roo crowing at 7 weeks and trying to breed at 10.

 

[gsim]

Quote:
What a little horny-toad!

Mine are Rhode Island Red, Black Australorpe, Barred Plymouth Rock, and Buff Comet. I bought sexed pullets from Myers hatchery in Ohio. I think they were around $2.25 each. All good layers in all weather. The Aussies are the quietest and would be great for a stealth flock. I am guessing that the buff comets are the best layers, but not by much. Friendliest are the Barred Rocks. I am surprised at how sweet and how much personality they have. I would have never known had we not raised our own. We can do 'chicken TV' (takeing cmper chairs out into the run and sitting in them) and very quickly we will have around 6 or so sitting in our laps and on the arms of our chairs telling us all about their day.

Gerry