will chickens lay without having a coop?

[Ardizzone7]

UGH!!!! My husband has yet to finish our coop. As ou can imagine I am ticked beyond belief!!!!!!!!

Right now it is partially done with the bottom fenced in whre we keep the chickens at night. Our hens are 24 weeks. Will they lay even without a coop and laying boxes? I am afraid they are not laying because they do not feel they have a safe place to lay. Is that true or are they just not ready? They are a RIR and 2 ISA Browns. UUUGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

 

[Imp]

Yes they will lay without a coop or nestbox. Where they will lay is the question. If they've got the run of the yard, then you may want to start the egg hunts.

Have fun,

Imp

 

[nuchickontheblock]

I agree with Imp, when they are ready to lay, they'll find a place. If you want them to lay in the fenced in run, You could try placing a milk crate on it's side with some pine shavings in it, or a covered cat box, etc. and they might use that as a nest box.

Good luck!

 

[Ma Noob]

Mine have a coop and choose not to lay in it LOL

THey are laying in it again now but were laying in a quiet corner of the pen for a while. My other chooks used to free range, and for all they had a house they slept on top of the BBQ and layed in the most rediculous of places. One time i found a whole stack of eggs under our old car that lives in the backyard. Ive also found them under a piece of wood that i still dont know how the fit under

 

[pgpoultry]

Mine have two coops and lots of nest boxes and always choose the hedge, bramble bushes, dog's bed etc.

 

[Ardizzone7]

OMG! LMAO they have 3 acres to run each day. Well we will start looking around the yard. I think we will start under the porch. I would love for them to start laying. Our 2 ducks started 2 and 4 weeks ago. The hens are really interested when the ducks are laying. They check out the duck house through out the day where I have ping pong balls in a nest. Maybe they will start laying there too.

 

[sourland]

They will lay without a coop, but they may not be safe without a coop.

 

[LarryPQ]

When you gotta lay an egg, you gotta lay an egg. Coop availability not withstanding.

 

[franklinchickens]

Mine have a beautiful coop, run, 2 nest boxes and free range our small backyard. I find eggs in the compost bin, up in the tree line, in empty pots, in the shrubs, in the zucchini plants (which are fenced in like a secure prison facility and we have no idea how she is getting in there). Go figure. I'd suggest setting up at least a safe place with shavings in it and putting in some golf balls to give them an idea of where to lay.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

I'm wondering if you already have eggs and haven't found the stash. My BR started at 18 weeks and my Delaware and Jersey Giant were 22 weeks when they started. So, I'd begin the hunt now! Ha ha