Moving chicks to a coop

[jds3uga]

I'm moving two RIR's to the coop next weekend - they'll be 5 weeks and are feathered - do I bother putting anything - hay or straw - in the laying boxes or wait until they get closer to laying age?

 

[RouttyChicks]

I was wondering the same thing. Will be following this one closely.
Or should i keep the nesting boxes closed off until closer to time to lay eggs?

 

[Fancypants1]

Had the same question - mine are only 1 week old but would like to get the coop ready for them.

 

[MrSelf Destruct]

I have bedding in my nesting boxes and my chicks are young...way too young to even think about laying. I mainly just have it in there in case they hop in there and go poo...

I use the wood shaving bedding in mine.

 

[Fowl Momma]

I would put it in and also, in a few weeks, put a fake egg in it. That's what I did and I never had a problem with them laying eggs anywhere else. And like Mr. Self destruct said, if they hop in it and poo, it will be a lot easier to clean.

 

[RouttyChicks]

Never thought about the fake egg idea. I was just concerned if they use the nesting boxes for play and resting would they know what they are for when they reach the age to begin laying eggs.
Or should i keep it closed off until they are about 5-6 months old?

Thanks everyone for the wonderful advice and sharing your knowledge.

 

[jeepguy982001]

i would close off the nesting boxes they are no where close to laying age. and might get a bad habit of sleeping in the nesting boxes.

 

[Fowl Momma]

Ahah! Never thought about them sleeping in them. I never had a problem with it before, but you never know. I think I'll do the same for a while.

 

[clankeyes]

I was told by a friend who breeds. To NOT let the pullets have access to the next boxes. She said to cover the opening as you do not want to get them into the habit of sleeping in the next box. She said it will make for a bad habit of pooping in it and possibly breaking the eggs when they do start to lay as they will think of it as their sleeping area.
I am following her advice. My pullets are 10 wks and when someone lays their first egg late summer early fall they will get use of the next boxes.

 

[donrae]

It is best not to let them get too comfy with the boxes when they're babies, as they tend to pile in there to sleep. Being such creatures of habit, it can be hard to get them to sleep elsewhere, and they poop a ton while the sleep. So, easiest down the road to keep them from the boxes at least the first while, until they are habituated to sleeping on the roost.