Nest Box Question

[ChickeryChick]

I have 1 month old ISA Browns.
They are currently in a cattle panel tractor.
I don't yet have the nest boxes made/procured.
I know they won't start laying right away, but how long before I need to get them in there?
Ok to wait a few months or should they be getting
used to them?

Thanks,

ChickeryChick

 

[Judy]

You don't need to have nest boxes in with them til they are about ready to lay. If there were nest boxes in there, you might have to close them off to prevent them from learning to sleep in them, which would eventually lead to poopy eggs.

 

[BawkinOnTheBench]

But I would say you don't want to wait too long either. Once they have learned to roost reliably, you should be safe to put the nest boxes in, complete with golf balls, so they will be used to them when they need them. I think we installed ours when our pullets were around 12-13 wks old.