WHEN will my chickens lay eggs?

[rooster47]

I have 5 Isa Brown chickens and am wondering when they will begin laying eggs. They are 15 weeks old, adorable, but I'm not sure if I should get the nesting box ready yet. They WERE sleeping and pooping in the nesting boxes so I covered them so they would not use them yet. Also, am wondering who out there HAS Isa Browns? They are a cross between a Rhode Island Red (mother) and a Rhode Island White (father). They are so cute. Getting chickens has been on my "bucket list" most of my life! They are so entertaining to watch. Thanks for the help.

 

[cterbizan]

they should start to lay anywhere between 4 to 8 months. So it maybe safe to say bring out the boxes.

 

[rooster47]

How will I know when they are beginning to lay eggs?

 

[vstoltzfus]

A couple of signs to look for our bright red combs, and they will "squat" when you approach them. Have fun!

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
You'll also notice that they start "trying out" the nest boxes. It's a very exciting time!

 

[aka Rachel]

I would open their nest boxes back up and put in some fake eggs along with whatever bedding material you will be using. Fake eggs could be anything from golf balls, wooden eggs, plastic eggs...anything vaguely egg shaped seemed to work for my girls. Each day I'd remake the nest, group up the eggs and clean out any poop.

When my girls were beginning to lay, I found a few tiny eggs in odd places but that was it, they caught on pretty quick.

Good luck!

ps mine started laying at 16 weeks, barred rocks.