When to open up the nest boxes?

[gregblackburn]

My chickens are 15 weeks old and I have blocked off their access to the nesting boxes since they've been in the coop. When should I (1) expect eggs and (2) open up the access to the nesting boxes? Thanks!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

No time like the present time especially if you can keep your hens on their roost pole at night and not sleeping in the nest boxes where they will just poop on their eggs or lay their eggs in their own poop..

 

[gregblackburn]

Bumping this since I posted way too early

 

[debid]

I've never closed mine, never had a chicken sleep there that wasn't keeping eggs warm.

I'd say it's definitely time since they will scout sites as they start the hormonal surge and at 15 weeks, that could be now.

 

[steffenbsd]

I waited until one of my hens developed a red comb and started squatting before removing my makeshift divider and adding a fake egg to each box. She got the point pretty quickly. A few shell-less eggs wound up under the roost. I assume they were a bit of a surprise to the hen that layed them. Also don't be surprised if it takes a week or two for the eggs to be consistent. It's a complicated system for their bodies to synchronize and it takes some practice. So don't panic and change their diet or management based on those starter eggs.

 

[aart]

15 weeks is a fine time to open nests, if you have sexlinks they may start laying soon, most breeds start between 18-28 weeks.
Put some nice bedding in nests and some fake eggs.
Opening them now will give them time to check things out and you time to maybe have to train your birds not to roost(sleep in the nests).
Roosts should be 1 foot higher than nests.

 

[adventurechicken123]

My hens are just over 16 weeks old...I have my nest boxes boarded up. I still have to finish the outside of the boxes and figure out how to make a secure, easy-to-open access door. I guess I had better get to work!