Free range before laying?

[brezbyme]

I've read that the best way to ensure your chickens lay in their nests is to keep them in the coop/run area until they feel that the nesting boxes are the place to lay. I have been letting them free range some for several weeks (the chickens are about 12 weeks old now) but not letting them out until around 3 in the afternoon. Now that it's getting pretty hot here in Oklahoma, I wondered if it would work to free range them most of the day now, but when they get close to laying age, confine them to the coop/run until evening and they get used to using their nesting boxes.
I hope I'm making sense. I know they will get used to free ranging all day and they won't like it when they don't get to, but I hate to keep them confined for another two months if it's not necessary. There are places that I'm afraid they will start laying if they get a chance and I would not be able to get to the eggs (under our 1100 sq. ft. deck, for example).

 

[Ridgerunner]

Obviously if they are not laying they can't hide a nest on you. Since you are comfortable with them free ranging I don't see that you gain anything by keeping them locked up until the afternoon.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Let them free range... and if becomes a problem then lock them in for training once they start laying.

Put fake eggs in the nest so they can see it's a safe place that doesn't get raided and they will think other girls agree.

I very rarely have trouble with hidden nest... and when I do it's ALWAYS the Easter Eggers that start it. We've got black berries galore and it isn't fun searching out nests... after well over 100 birds... I would free range until there was an issue.

 

[brezbyme]

Let them free range... and if becomes a problem then lock them in for training once they start laying.

Put fake eggs in the nest so they can see it's a safe place that doesn't get raided and they will think other girls agree.

I very rarely have trouble with hidden nest... and when I do it's ALWAYS the Easter Eggers that start it. We've got black berries galore and it isn't fun searching out nests... after well over 100 birds... I would free range until there was an issue.

Well, I do have 3 EE's so I'll keep a close eye on them when they start laying!