When to put in the nesting boxes

[Ridgerunner]

What type do you have that laid at 16-weeks?
Whaat

In ten years I had two different pullets that laid their first egg at 16 weeks. They were not a breed, One was a mix of hatchery birds, Speckled Sussex, Black Astralorp, Delaware, and Buff Orpington. I don't know how much of those breeds was included in that specific pullet.

The other pullet was a mix of those plus some Black Ameraucana I got from a breeder and hatchery Buff Rock. Again, not sure what percentages of any of these breeds.

If I hatch ten pullets from my flock I normally expect the first egg around 20 weeks with most of them laying within the next two months. Sometimes mot of them start closer to 20 weeks, sometimes closer to the 28 weeks. Each year it varies. I got the same spread with the pullets I got from hatcheries when they were a breed before I mixed them. A few of those started at 17 weeks.

People want to think that a certain breed pullet will start to lay at a certain age, no matter which hatchery or breeder she is from. Real life doesn't work that way.

 

[Chickadooo]

I put boxes in around 15 weeks but we didn’t get our first egg till around 20 weeks. I didn’t have any fake eggs at the time so I used my kids plastic maraca egg and placed into one of the boxes. She didn’t use it at first she found a quiet shaded spot under a small redwood . I actually didn’t know she had been laying until I caught her in the side yard that’s fenced off and found four eggs. Once I blocked it off they got the idea I found eggs in with the plastic one the next day. I have since ordered wooden brown eggs from amazon at a really good price!

Like these?

 

[Chickadooo]

I use golf balls but the ceramic or even wooden work great. The ceramic can be so lifelike it helps to mark them just so you know.

What about using the plastic easter eggs, maybe with some tape on the sides so they don't come apart

 

[Ridgerunner]

What about using the plastic easter eggs, maybe with some tape on the sides so they don't come apart

I tried that and the plastic eggs worked. Color did not seem to matter. The issues were that they are too light so they can get scratched out of the nest so I filled them with sand. With the glue or tape I used the hens' scratching broke them apart after a while. If you can get a good glue or tape it can work, I was never successful with what I tried.

 

[Chickadooo]

I tried that and the plastic eggs worked. Color did not seem to matter. The issues were that they are too light so they can get scratched out of the nest so I filled them with sand. With the glue or tape I used the hens' scratching broke them apart after a while. If you can get a good glue or tape it can work, I was never successful with what I tried.

I might try it out when the time comes just to see if I can get it to work.. and save a few bucks

 

[aart]

Like these?

Got link for that?

 

[Grits&Eggs]

What type do you have that laid at 16-weeks?
Whaat

I have Australorps and I got eggs right around 16 weeks, and they have been VERY productive ever since!

 

[Chickadooo]

Got link for that?

MasterPro Wooden Fake Eggs-6 pieces by MasterPro https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MFGSL7M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_IwaMBbRB2K68Z

 

[Deannak63]

They are red sex-links. Their eggs are huge, considering how (not) large the girls are.View attachment 1530945

WOW!

 

[Deannak63]

I see many who say they should not sleep in the nesting boxes. My best friend, who raises chickens, said she’s never been able to prevent it in the winter. Why do we not want them sleeping in the boxes?