when to put in a dummy egg

[tav1]

i have months be they lay .....but when should a put in a dummy egg so they get the idea?

 

[The Angry Hen]

The month before they are supposed to lay could be the best choice.

 

[barred2rock]

Do you need to keep the dummy egg there for awhile after they lay or just remove it as soon as they start laying?

 

[The Angry Hen]

leave it, is what I do. They will encourage brood, egg laying and discourage egg eating.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Unblock or install nest boxes and put in fake eggs when they begin to squat as you reach down to pet them.
Around 1 to 2 weeks later my Golden Comets started to lay.
I leave a ceramic egg in each box. GC

 

[rIrs roost]

Ive never used a dummy egg. But I think the hands have found places in the woods to lay. I may give that a try

 

[lutherpug]

Unblock or install nest boxes and put in fake eggs when they begin to squat as you reach down to pet them.
Around 1 to 2 weeks later my Golden Comets started to lay.
I leave a ceramic egg in each box. GC

Agree. Once they start squatting is when I would unblock the nest boxes and add the ceramic eggs. Squatting is obvious, you'll know right away when you see it. All of mine have started laying within a week or two of the first squat.