How do I get ready for 18 weeks girls ready to lay eggs?

[Browniethechicken]

My girls are 18 weeks old today and I am wondering what I need to do to get them ready to lay eggs. This may not be a fruitful endeavor at this point as it is almost October in New England but I’m wondering what to do with the nest boxes which up until now I have them closed off. What do I need to do to make the nest boxes cozy and appealing? Neat materials? What do I need to add to their diet? They are on chick starter feed because I have some five week old chicks that I’m growing at the same time so they’re all eating the same food. I understand that all I need to do is add some oyster shell? Is this true? Any advice is appreciated. There is my first time with chickens.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Why do you want them closed? Open those nests now. If you are going to have issues with them open I'd want to know it before they start laying so I can fix the problem before they start to lay. I also don't want to train them to lay somewhere else because they can't get to those nests when they start.

Post photos pf your nests so we can critique them.

Add a fake egg to each nest. That can encourage them to lay there.

I'd offer oyster shell on the side. If they need it they should eat it. If they don't need the calcium they should not eat enough to harm themselves.

 

[KreetchaKeepa]

I put excelsior nesting pads and wooden eggs in my nest boxes to give the girls a clue. I hung a separate feeder with oyster shell and I still feed chick starter. Some folks put curtains. I have material for curtains, but haven't put them up. My girls are laying fine without them.

I'm new, too. Others will probably have better tips than me.

 

[3KillerBs]

My nests have a mix of straw and shavings. And golf balls.

Expect your POL pullets to drive you nuts by kicking out all the nesting material (you want good, deep lips on the boxes), and throwing the fake eggs on the floor as they explore their options and make a mess figuring out what their instincts are telling them.

 

[Chinachik]

The best way to know when they going to start laying is when they squat when you are near them. Someone in a feed about when they are ready to lay, said that when they began to squat when you are near. It will be about 2 weeks maybe less before they lay their first egg. Do open your nest boxes so they can explore them. I have one that will lay in the nest box and the other 2 want to lay in what was supposed to be my supply area. I also started mixing in a little laying feed with their grower and am slowly getting them towards laying mash. I have oyster shell and have been giving them small bits of meat, berries, kale and whatever little snack they can have when they turned 18 weeks old.

 

[Browniethechicken]

My nests have a mix of straw and shavings. And golf balls.

Expect your POL pullets to drive you nuts by kicking out all the nesting material (you want good, deep lips on the boxes), and throwing the fake eggs on the floor as they explore their options and make a mess figuring out what their instincts are telling them.

Should I expect to see them laying right at 18 weeks? Thank you! Good info! I have shavings but need straw

 

[Browniethechicken]

Why do you want them closed? Open those nests now. If you are going to have issues with them open I'd want to know it before they start laying so I can fix the problem before they start to lay. I also don't want to train them to lay somewhere else because they can't get to those nests when they start.

Post photos pf your nests so we can critique them.

Add a fake egg to each nest. That can encourage them to lay there.

I'd offer oyster shell on the side. If they need it they should eat it. If they don't need the calcium they should not eat enough to harm themselves.

What do you put in for nesting materials?

 

[Browniethechicken]

The best way to know when they going to start laying is when they squat when you are near them. Someone in a feed about when they are ready to lay, said that when they began to squat when you are near. It will be about 2 weeks maybe less before they lay their first egg. Do open your nest boxes so they can explore them. I have one that will lay in the nest box and the other 2 want to lay in what was supposed to be my supply area. I also started mixing in a little laying feed with their grower and am slowly getting them towards laying mash. I have oyster shell and have been giving them small bits of meat, berries, kale and whatever little snack they can have when they turned 18 weeks old.

Very good info thank you

 

[Browniethechicken]

I put excelsior nesting pads and wooden eggs in my nest boxes to give the girls a clue. I hung a separate feeder with oyster shell and I still feed chick starter. Some folks put curtains. I have material for curtains, but haven't put them up. My girls are laying fine without them.

I'm new, too. Others will probably have better tips than me.

This is good info thanks

 

[Dhkoenig]

The best way to know when they going to start laying is when they squat when you are near them. Someone in a feed about when they are ready to lay, said that when they began to squat when you are near. It will be about 2 weeks maybe less before they lay their first egg. Do open your nest boxes so they can explore them. I have one that will lay in the nest box and the other 2 want to lay in what was supposed to be my supply area. I also started mixing in a little laying feed with their grower and am slowly getting them towards laying mash. I have oyster shell and have been giving them small bits of meat, berries, kale and whatever little snack they can have when they turned 18 weeks old.

does the egg song also have to do with their readiness? Two of my 20 week olds started chiming in on the egg song for the first time yesterday - it was so cute and it made me wonder, is an egg far behind?