When to Feed Layer Feed and Placement of Nesting Boxes

[DuckDuckSook]

Hi there!
Our 6 chickens will be 17 weeks old next week so I want to start getting them ready for the possibility of laying eggs. Their coop is a shed and I am adding in milk crates as nesting boxes and I was wondering where to place them. Should they be towards the back of the shed away from the door to provide enough privacy or should they be closer to the door to make it easier to retrieve the eggs? Also, when do I start feeding them layer feed? Do I just start giving it to them when they are a certain age or not until eggs have been laid? I know they need the extra calcium in order to promote laying so I wasn't sure. I will also be getting some oyster shell for them. Thanks in advance!

 

[aart]

Make it convenient for you, unless it's terrible for the birds.
Nests should be lower than roosts so birds don't sleep in nests.
They don't need 'privacy', they just need to feel 'safe'.
Post some pics of your coop and the nests.

I've never fed layer feed, I use an all flock type feed and have oyster shells in a separate feeder always available. But if you do plan to use layer feed, wait until they are laying.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

 

[DuckDuckSook]

That is the coop in the run. I have a side view also. But, in this pic, you can see the inside. I have since added two tarps over the run for added shade and protection from rain/wet weather.

 

[Kiki]

You can switch them to layer feed now.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

My chickens free range during the day in our yard. I only have the run for when we all go back to school/work (I'm a teacher.)

 

[DuckDuckSook]

 

[DuckDuckSook]

That's the side view of the coop with the hardware clothed window. They are only in the coop at night for extra protection. We have many foxes around here.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

Also, how many milk crate nesting boxes for 6 chickens? I was originally planning on 3, but maybe just 2 to save some space?

 

[NatJ]

Also, when do I start feeding them layer feed? ...I will also be getting some oyster shell for them.

Put in a dish of oyster shell as soon as you have it.
Layer feed: either when the current bag of feed runs out, or when the bag after that runs out, or never. The only special thing about layer feed is the calcium, and free-choice oyster shell can provide that.

Also, how many milk crate nesting boxes for 6 chickens? I was originally planning on 3, but maybe just 2 to save some space?

Two is probably fine. A common recommendation is one nest for four hens. The exception is if the hens go broody and sit on the nests all day --then you need one nest per broody hen, plus enough extra that the others still have places to lay eggs.

If you put a fake egg or two in each nest, they'll be more likely to add their own eggs to the clutch, instead of finding a nice bush and making their own nest underneath.