Covering the nest-box entrance for awhile?

[St-Hubert]

I've been reading through a few threads, and I have a question regarding the nesting boxes. My three are a week or so away from being moved into the coop, where I hear they should stay 'locked-up' for a week before being let out into the run (please correct me if I am wrong on that one). As it's going to be awhile before they start laying...we have a Buff Orpington, a light Brahma, and an EE....should I cover up the nesting boxes so they don't have access to them? I have roosts set up for them that are higher than the nesting boxes are, but I don't want them thinking the boxes are sleeping quarters.

Any help or guidance will be appreciated. I will also try to post photos of the 'so-far' coop this evening or tomorrow.

Thank you all. This is a wonderful place for a first-time chicken owner!

 

[henney penny]

I never covered mine when I first put mine out and they would check them out but never slept in them as they like to roost up high.I never left mine in for a week I think three or four days and then I let them out in the run with the coop door open so they could get insideIf you have trouble getting them to go back in at night then put a light in there for awhile and they will go to the light.

 

[St-Hubert]

Thank you for that! I appreciate your thoughts.
Getting them back into the coop at night was going to be my next post. I've been reading up on that....with my luck, I'll be one of the ones that has chickens that won't go back in!

 

[Shifty Joe]

They will ignore the nests (for the most part), you just lock them in the coop for a "bit" so they know that can\\should sleep there without getting eaten. After that, they will go in the coop at night like clock work.

 

[St-Hubert]

Good deal. Thank you!

 

[sattoritx]

Awesome questions indeed, I wasn't sure about this either thanks for helping out another newbie

I hadn't seen anything on keeping them in the coop for a couple days and was told to get them inside just throw some food inside, but I like the light idea better. we were planning on using rope lighting.

 

[chicmom]

Hello! Love your "chick on the head" pic! LOL

When I'm getting ready to put young chickens in a new coop, I do lock them in for about five days so that they get to feel like that is "home base". (They do have access to the attached fully covered chicken run.)

Then when I think they're settled in, I'll let them free range for a couple hours before dark at first, then I let them out every day around 4pm until dusk--they head straight for the coop themselves for bedtime. It's automatic. YAY!

The reason why I don't let them out until 4 or 5 pm is because they are usually done laying their eggs, and I don't have to look around outside trying to find out where they're laying. (That is a pain!)

Good luck with your chickens!

That looks like a Buff Orp on your head......

Sharon

 

[Dogfish]

I just covered up the nest boxes with some plywood. Remove 6 screws and it is usable.

 

[St-Hubert]

Quote:
Thanks. She is indeed a Buff Orpington, and it was that night I learned she could fly!

I am not going to be free-ranging them, as we have at least one Red Tail hawk in the area and any number of feral cats. The coop is actually in the run (I'm building under the porch of my storage house), and the overall run size is about 16' x 8' with a roof ranging from 6' down to about 5'5". The inside of the coop is 6' x 4' with about a 4' inside height. If we ever do let them out, they will be escorted every step of the way.
Thank you for the advice!

DogFish....that is not a bad idea. If they do not learn that the nesting boxes aren't roost spots, I will use that. Thank you!

 

[GardeNerd]

My nest boxes go on the shelf under the roosts. I covered the opening with cardboard and taped it with duct tape until they were about 17 weeks old.