How do I train chicks to lay in boxes not sleep in them?

[ldutch123]

I know I am jumping the gun a little bit but I have 12 week old hens and im wondering how to teach them not to sleep in the nest boxes? Any ideas or is this just something they learn naturally? The majority sleep on the roosts already but a few hang out in the boxes.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

1 - make sure the roosts are higher than the nest boxes and that there is enough room on them for all the birds

2 - if no one is laying right now, block off the nest boxes until they get closer to laying age

Thats my 2 cents

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yay Chicks! :

1 - make sure the roosts are higher than the nest boxes and that there is enough room on them for all the birds

2 - if no one is laying right now, block off the nest boxes until they get closer to laying age

Thats my 2 cents

Ditto.​

 

[Fred's Hens]

X3

 

[ldutch123]

I am blocking the boxes off today. Also the roosts start low and get high. Thanks for the advice.

 

[JodyJo]

Same advice....

and when they get really close, unblock the boxes, throw a few fake eggs, or golf balls in there...I had to put a material curtain in front
of my boxes, so they would go inside....

Also keeping them locked in for a few extra hours, will keep them from making hidden nests all over the place....

 

[eggcamefirst]

My rooster and a few hens did that for a week or so. I would go out at night and physically move them to the roosts. Did that for 3 nights then he started roosting with the girls...

 

[roxyblue]

Hello!,
recently I added a couple more hens to my existing flock, everyone got confused about were to sleep, (most ended up on the ground) so I would go out every night and plop them on there roost. It worked!