when to put in the nest boxes

[Arkansas81]

I hope to be able to install boxes tomorrow. I'm going to see how it goes with the boxes...ill adjust if i need to. Ill post some pics when I get everything done.

 

[Wrigley62]

Good morning Arkansas81,

My chicks just turned 17 weeks old, and yesterday I got my first egg. For some reason this past Saturday I opened up the nesting boxes so the girls could check them out. I thought that I had at least four more weeks before I could even think to have an egg. They've been going in and out looking around laying for a moment or two, then back onto the roosts. I've been told to discourage them from going in and sleeping for the night. I put a board across the front of all the boxes to keep them out. Like I said, the boxes have been open since Saturday and nobody has been sleeping in them.

 

[Arkansas81]

wrigley~can you plz tell me what kind do you have? and can you take some pictures and post? my big girls are red production muts. but i do

enjoy each and everyone. my girls are 17wks too but no eggs yet. i hope to get some soon...just am so anxious. i hope to be able to put in the boxes tonight...lord knows that i dont want to have to train chickens to use a dumb nest box!

anywho...congrats on your first

egg...thanks for sharing!

 

[Wrigley62]

Good morning Arkansas and thank you,

I have seven different breeds...Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Sex-Links, Araucanas, Buff Orphingtons, Golden Comets and Black Australorps. I think it was one of the Black Sex-Links, but I can't be sure. She was snooping around the boxes quite a bit. It was either her or one of the Barred Rocks, she's got some "Raging Hormones", She's huge with fully developed waddles and comb, I just can't be for sure.

I think it was just a fluke, because I haven't seen an egg since Monday. Although on Saturday I did give all the girls some yogurt, it was so hot here and it seemed to cool them off, besides they loved it. That has been their only calcium source. I don't know, I do think it's still too early. But I keep looking

.

I don't think you'll have train them to use the nest boxes, I just made sure that the roosts were above the nesting boxes, they seem to like to be at the highest point possible.

I'll take some more recent pictures and post them for you.

We must be patient,
Take care,
Wrigley

P.S The top photo is of my wife and Gladys, I think she's the one that laid the egg, Gladys, not my wife.

 

[Arkansas81]

Wrigley,

Both are beautiful. I have some red productions that look like your rirs. I have 2 white leghorns, black maran rooster, black sex link rooster. My ee's and polish aren't anywhere close to laying. I just put in the nest boxes last night, they like to roost on the top level where i've been keeping my ee's and polish. I just opened up the other side where my ee's and polish hasve been so they can intergrate together. I tried it about a month ago but the bigger ones where out for blood, but now all seems to be working out just fine.

My girls are about the same size as yours, but their faces-waddles aren't quite as developed just yet. So maybe they aren't ready yet. Ive been giving them layer mash for about a week now. I also give them some scraps of fruit and veggies, but most of it they don't care for. Yogurt? hmmm how interesting! I might have to try that, how funny! Chickens are soooo much fun learning about and taking care of. My daughter gets a big kick out of her babies.

Woke up this morning and my black sexlink roo crowed for the first time! Now his bros need to catch up...i wonder how loud it will be when they all start? I have my own choir

! Thanks for the pics! Now I can see how more developed they need to be...

 

[Wrigley62]

Thank you Arkansas,

I have one Rooster, he's a Buff Orpington. He wasn't planned, he was supposed to be a Pullet. We'll see how he works out.

As for the Yogurt, I split up 32 oz. on three plates for seventeen birds, I think that was too much. It kinda made them "Loose" if you know what I mean. Next time I won't give them so much at one time. But they sure did love it. I swear they were slurping it up.

I have a "Chicken Guru" at our local Agway, he said not to give them any "Layers food" until they start to lay. I hear different things from different people, I am going to start with the "Layers Food" today.

 

[Arkansas81]

thanks wrig! i will try that other site too. i agree never can have too many experts giving advice. i am going to try the yogurt thing tonight. i like to give all of my critters a treaty now and again. i know sometimes having a number of ppl saying different things can be a lil confusing. but i can't see how it will hurt to give them better food now. that just makes them more healthy, etc.

 

[Lewjay]

I have 4 RIRs and when I built the coop, I added the boxes then. I used kitty litter rectangular buckets and cut the tops out and screwed them to the back of the coop. They have a roost across from the boxes but have not used them yet.
I feed my girls tomatoes, etc from the garden and then in the evening I cut up high weedy grass and cut it into pieces for them. They come running when they see me coming with the grass. Also been feeding laying mash for awhile now. I have oyster shell in one of the little quart feeders so they can take it as they need it. I think it was like .45 / lb.

 

[Arkansas81]

Lew sounds a little like my setup..but i have much more girls/boys than you do. i think i will offer them free oyster shell. they seem not to be making such a mess with their food anymore. Everyone is getting along..FINALLY. ive got the boxes in and put hay in them tonight with lots of pine shavings. i think they are ready to rock and roll when they feel like it.