When to remove fake eggs from nest boxes

[KarynVA]

I was just wondering at what point folks are removing the fake eggs from the nest boxes. My 3 have been laying in the boxes consistently for going on 2 weeks, without ever laying anywhere else. Is it time to remove those fake eggs? Or is there a reason to leave them in the boxes for a while longer?

 

[HappyDuckie]

You can remove them. The only time you would need to put them back is if they stopped laying in the boxes.

 

[howdyitsmia]

I removed them once mine started kicking them out of the nesting boxes to lay their actual eggs I think they know that they’re fake.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I actually leave mine in. It's like a constant reminder.. this is where the eggs go.

 

[DougVC]

I leave mine in as well. It seems like whenever I take them out I start getting eggs in places other than the nesting boxes. They don’t hurt anything, so I just leave them in there.

 

[Sally PB]

I thought they were supposed to stay there forever. So I left mine in. I like having a "normal" sized egg to compare mine to; my pullets have been laying for about 2 months, and some of the eggs are still on the small side.

I did find out I was getting bigger eggs when I brought in one of the fake eggs by accident with two others. Didn't crack... hmmmm...?

OH!!! Wow! Look at this nice big egg I left in the nest!

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I leave mine in, as well.

 

[3KillerBs]

I never took the golf balls out.

In fact, this second flock has the same golf balls that I used for the in-town chickens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I leave them in. When I tried taking them out before, figuring I didn't need them anymore, it upset one of the hens so much that she just kept pacing in and out and staring at the nest. So rather than risk upsetting them to the point that they stop using the nest, I simply leave them in.

 

[KarynVA]

Thanks, everyone, for the anecdotes and experiences on this topic. I've decided to live dangerously and removed the eggs. We'll see later this morning whether the chickens can deal with it.