I remember as a kid that my farmer-wife aunt use to hang burlap in front of the nesting boxes. The idea being that hens like to hide their eggs and they would be more apt to use the boxes. (Of course burlap was more available in those days since it was the primary material in feed bags.) I've never done it and, mostly, the hens use the nesting boxes without it but wonder if it is still a practice and how well it works.
I use curtains on the front of my nesting boxes (actually cut up painting tarp fabric), only because the coop windows are east facing and the sun is bright in the AM when they are nesting. I think (!) they like privacy when they are laying.
