nesting box

[rickchick]

I have 6 young chickens/ ive only had them 1 week. at night the same 2 want to roost in there nesting boxes. these 2 haven't yet started laying.what can I do to keep them out of boxes

 

[fried green eggs]

Hi &

. Congrats on the new pullets. Until they are 16 weeks old (for production early laying type hens) you should block off the nesting boxes so, they don't get in a habit of sleeping in them. It's a good idea when they do start getting ready to lay that you put some fake eggs in the boxes. You can use ceramic or wood eggs or even golf balls in the boxes so they learn where to lay and by pecking at the fake eggs - they will learn to leave eggs alone. You will be able to tell when they start getting close to laying because their combs will get more red in color and the comb will look fuller. That's when I would open up the nesting boxes for them.