Coop the birds more when they are about to start laying?

[speyerk]

My 3 birds are close to start laying, I currently let them free range the yard all day, should I coop them during the day so they start using their nesting boxes?

 

[Judy]

I think most people just put a golf ball or other fake egg in the nest, and wait and see. They're liable to lay the very first few in an odd place, anyway, while they adjust.

 

[speyerk]

Thanks,

I just put up a new fence so they only have the run of the back of the yard, so if they lay in weird places it will be easier to find them...

We got the chicks a week before Christmas, so they should lay soon. I'm getting really impatient!