Nesting box installation question

[Tomhusker]

I am currently free ranging my flock of 45 pullets and 8 Cockrell, they are 9 weeks old today. They return to the coop every evening like clockwork. I have not built the nest boxes yet because I don't want them to use them while roosting . I plan on building a nest box to mount on the outside of the coop to make egg retrieval easier. I figure they will begin laying around 16 to 18 weeks old. When should I have the nest box done?

 

[pdirt]

If you're going to mount the boxes outside the coop, just build them now to have them ready, but don't install them yet. When you find your first egg, go ahead and install them then. Be sure you install them lower than the Roosts to discourage sleeping in the boxes.