Starting Free Range Chickens off on the right foot

First of all, I've got to say what a blessing this website/forum has been.  Most of the questions I've had I have not had to post because of the extensive advice I've seen given on this site.  I did see some threads regarding free ranging and egg laying, but because I'm trying to prohibit a problem instead of solve one I thought I'd go ahead and post my particular story.  Thanks ahead of time for the responses!

I've got 4 free range EE's that are about 12 weeks old.  I know within a month or two (or three) I'll be having my first fresh eggs.  So I have a couple of questions:

1. Because of Chicken math my 4 EE's has turned into 24 chickens (the other 20 -red star and polish- are only 4 weeks old at this point.)  We've had to start construction on a bigger barn/shed style coop for all of them.  So the question: do I wait to actually put the nesting boxes in there until they're closer to laying or do I go ahead and put them in there now before we transition them to their new home?  If I wait until they're closer to laying age, at what time should I put them in?

2. They are completely free range chickens.  They have access to 20 acres of land although usually stay in a 1 acre area around the house.  How can I start them laying in the correct place?  I've heard of locking them in for a few days to a few weeks to get them to understand, but because of the large spread of time when they could potentially start laying how do I know when to do this?

3. I've heard of golf balls/fake eggs in nest boxes.  Do they need to stay there or is that a temporary solution until they figure out what to do?

I think that's all -- for the moment.  Thanks!

Thanks Centrarchid,

That's kind of my question though... I know at some point I'll have to confine them, but since they're free range chickens I'd like to have a better idea of when is good so that I can keep them penned up as short a time as possible.

I have a separate corner in the unfinished coop that will be designated to roosting.  It will have linoleum poop boards for easy cleaning.  This should also help aid in keeping the laying boxes clean and for laying only.

Quote:

Originally Posted by devora 

Since most of the laying happens before the afternoon hours, I keep my girls in until after lunchtime for a few months before they begin to lay. They free range all day after that hour. 

 

After they have proven they will lay in the coop and only the coop, I let them out earlier. 

 

Perfect.  Exactly what I was looking for.  Thank you.
 

Now, as a side note to that... we plan to build a covered run on the outside of the coop for when the weather is blah.  So during the "confinement" period is the run acceptable or do I keep them inside the coop?