When to provide nesting boxes?

[yakitori]

My birds are now almost 12 weeks old, I’m in hudson valley New York and the nights are getting pretty cold. I would like to know whether I can expect eggs this year from my black sexlink and EEs. I also have orloffs, but I know they will mature much more slowly.

I’m also wondering when I should start putting in nesting boxes and provide oyster shells on the side?

Thanks in advance

 

[rosemarythyme]

If they're roosting reliably, you can go ahead and do nest boxes now, to give them time to explore the boxes and to make sure they continue roosting once boxes are available.

Oyster shells can go in any time really (as I have hens the chicks always have access, but other than a sampling they don't seem interested in eating any), but if you want to be more cautious, 16 weeks or so is fine as well.

 

[Flockincrazy]

My birds are now almost 12 weeks old, I’m in hudson valley New York and the nights are getting pretty cold. I would like to know whether I can expect eggs this year from my black sexlink and EEs. I also have orloffs, but I know they will mature much more slowly.

I’m also wondering when I should start putting in nesting boxes and provide oyster shells on the side?

Thanks in advance

Your black sexlinks are early layers 16-18wks the EE's are a little late at 20-25wks i would put nesting boxes and oyster shells out at 15-16wks even though its getting cold better if it is out just incase they decide to start laying on time

 

[yakitori]

Thanks! I'll put out the oyster shells now, I was a little worried that it might be bad for them when given too early, but I should trust them to know what they need. I don't police the food they forage after all I guess it just felt different since it's something I would be providing for them, as opposed to already existing in nature.

Do people only provide nesting boxes in the coop? I don't think I've ever seen it in the run...

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do people only provide nesting boxes in the coop? I don't think I've ever seen it in the run...

They don't HAVE to be in a coop but if they're in the run, they need to be protected from weather, predators/pests, and accessible during all daylight hours... which is exactly what a coop does.

 

[Flockincrazy]

Thanks! I'll put out the oyster shells now, I was a little worried that it might be bad for them when given too early, but I should trust them to know what they need. I don't police the food they forage after all I guess it just felt different since it's something I would be providing for them, as opposed to already existing in nature.

Do people only provide nesting boxes in the coop? I don't think I've ever seen it in the run...

Yes in the coop and put some fake eggs in the nestboxes for a hint where they should be laying so your doing egg hunts everyday since they free range

 

[thepick4uchicks]

My birds are now almost 12 weeks old, I’m in hudson valley New York and the nights are getting pretty cold. I would like to know whether I can expect eggs this year from my black sexlink and EEs. I also have orloffs, but I know they will mature much more slowly.

I’m also wondering when I should start putting in nesting boxes and provide oyster shells on the side?

Thanks in advance

I would google your breeds and see when they generally lay and have the boxes in about two to three weeks ahead of that. If you put them in much before that most likely they will just learn to sleep and roost in them. After you put them in you can wait till about a week before they are scheduled and put some fake eggs in their to kind of help them get the hang of the idea prior to them laying so when the urge arrives they know where to go. Also you can tell by their comes and waddles becoming bright red as to when sexual maturity and POL time is near. When they become bright red they are getting ready to Lay.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I would google your breeds and see when they generally lay and have the boxes in about two to three weeks ahead of that. If you put them in much before that most likely they will just learn to sleep and roost in them. After you put them in you can wait till about a week before they are scheduled and put some fake eggs in their to kind of help them get the hang of the idea prior to them laying so when the urge arrives they know where to go. Also you can tell by their comes and waddles becoming bright red as to when sexual maturity and POL time is near. When they become bright red they are getting ready to Lay.

Also when they have laid their first egg then put oyster shell out free choice in a separate dish.

 

[aart]

If you put them in much before that most likely they will just learn to sleep and roost in them.

No matter when you put the nests in,
they might sleep in them if they are higher than the roosts.
The whole reason for putting nests in before eggs comes is to break any nest sleeping habits if they occur.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

No matter when you put the nests in,
they might sleep in them if they are higher than the roosts.
The whole reason for putting nests in before eggs comes is to break any nest sleeping habits if they occur.

So if we put them lower than the roost is that good?