Young birds and laying

[Kmltl1974]

I have 1 - 6 month old silkie (hopefully hen) and 4 - 9week old pullets, do they have a natural instinct to lay eggs in the coup nesting boxes or do you have to teach them somehow? 2 of the pullets lay in the box at night, and the rest roost right now. Should I block off the box for now so they all roost?New to bringing up baby chicks. Thanks!

 

[Vantic]

Usually, chickens do not lay at night. Usually it is in the daylight hours, even just before sunrise.

Most have to be trained to the nest box, I put ceramic eggs in the box when they are close to show them where they go.

 

[Presnell5]

I have 1 - 6 month old silkie (hopefully hen) and 4 - 9week old pullets, do they have a natural instinct to lay eggs in the coup nesting boxes or do you have to teach them somehow? 2 of the pullets lay in the box at night, and the rest roost right now. Should I block off the box for now so they all roost?New to bringing up baby chicks. Thanks!

Yes it’s a natural instinct to lay in the boxes. They will continue to sleep in them to however. So if they are ready to roost you may want to block the boxes off. I never did and they figured it out but some are more stubborn.

 

[Kmltl1974]

Yes it’s a natural instinct to lay in the boxes. They will continue to sleep in them to however. So if they are ready to roost you may want to block the boxes off. I never did and they figured it out but some are more stubborn.

If my older hen is ready to lay, and I have the boxes blocked off, will she lay an egg somewhere else? Or should I just block them off at night?

 

[Presnell5]

Oooh I didn’t realize you had an older one. 6 months might be time for her to lay soon.... hhhhhmmmm yes if you can just block them at night. She will lay anywhere when it’s time. I’m sure she’d rather lay in the box though. If you don’t want to block the boxes off at night you can also go out at night when they are sleeping and just put them on the roosts. After a few nights they will start to get the hang of it.