Is it to late??Egglaying nest boxes

[the Precious Ladies]

Hi

My chickens laid their first eggs!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!!
BUtttttttt
We did not have a next box buit in the chicken coop when we buit it. Ive tried convincing my dad to build it but he never has. Yesturday, (sept. 3rd) My mom and dad saw silverwing come out of the kids sand box and yell, proudly. Mom went down their and their were 5 eggs in a makeshift "nest"!!! 3 were a really light brown and on the smaller size, and 2 were a dark brown large eggs!! How long do you think they have been laying? And is it to late to get them to lay in the nest boxes dad is building today?
(3 wyanadottes, 3 easter eggers) Their 19 weeks old.

Thanks!!

 

[JenO]

I'm not an expert so I may be contradicted, but I'd say go for it with the nest boxes. One of mine laid her first egg right smack dab in the middle of the henhouse, even tho we had a nest box that everyone else was already using. She only did that first one tho, after that she started laying them in the box. Maybe you could put the nest box in the sand box where they are already laying, and if/when they start using it start moving it daily towards where you want it to end up.