12 week pullets....Should I cover nesting boxes?

[EastCoastChickens]

I've seen a few sites say that until your hens are old enough to lay that you should not allow access to the nesting boxes by blocking them off. Has anyone else practiced this? I will be getting my pullets at 12 weeks of age. 3 Heritage breeds Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red and Black Australorp. What is the reasoning behind this and do you recommend it? What has your experience been in this situation?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I have never blocked my nesting boxes. When it is time for them to lay....around 18 weeks, put some fake eggs or golf balls in the nesting boxes to teach your ladies where to lay.
Best wishes and be well! ❤

 

[rosemarythyme]

So here's my logic - I don't block them because they've never been an issue.

IF you do find that there's pullets starting to sleep in the nest boxes, I would block them off at that point, and the unblock them about a week before onset of laying (going by redness of combs, submissive squatting, etc) so they can explore them again before they lay.

 

[aart]

What is the reasoning behind this and do you recommend it? What has your experience been in this situation?

You don't want them sleeping in nests as they poop a lot at night.
Some folks don't mind this, but I forbid it.
If roosts are higher than nests it will help, but might not totally eliminate it.
You'll just have to see.

Depending on how your coop is set up,
pics would be great here,
ETA- https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-first-chicken-coop-build.1361121/
it might not be a bad Idea to block the nests while the birds are homing to their new coop.
Do you plan to keep them confined to the coop for a few days to 'home' them?

You can always take them out of nest and put them in the roost well after dark.
I have new chicks every year so rigged a hinged cover for my nest bank.
It's handy when I'm breaking a broody too.
I close the cover an hour or so before roosting time.
Then uncover when I lock up after dark.

 

[EastCoastChickens]

You don't want them sleeping in nests as they poop a lot at night.
Some folks don't mind this, but I forbid it.
If roosts are higher than nests it will help, but might not totally eliminate it.
You'll just have to see.

Depending on how your coop is set up,
pics would be great here,
ETA- https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-first-chicken-coop-build.1361121/
it might not be a bad Idea to block the nests while the birds are homing to their new coop.
Do you plan to keep them confined to the coop for a few days to 'home' them?

You can always take them out of nest and put them in the roost well after dark.
I have new chicks every year so rigged a hinged cover for my nest bank.
It's handy when I'm breaking a broody too.
I close the cover an hour or so before roosting time.
Then uncover when I lock up after dark.

Very helpful. Thank you. I've attached a photo below. Now i've taken that temporary perch out under the window and added one above the door on the right. They have 2 roosts to choose from now. I thought of blocking it off for a coupe weeks. I'm getting them at 12 weeks of age so it may be some time before I get eggs anyway.

 

[EastCoastChickens]

So here's my logic - I don't block them because they've never been an issue.

IF you do find that there's pullets starting to sleep in the nest boxes, I would block them off at that point, and the unblock them about a week before onset of laying (going by redness of combs, submissive squatting, etc) so they can explore them again before they lay.

Great advice! Thank you