Nesting boxes - when to make available?

[chango]

New backyard chicken guy here. Female chicks (Golden Buff x 7) are coming up to the point where they will moved from the brooder to their permanent coop. They won't be laying eggs for a few more months, so I'm wondering what is the best practice for their nesting boxes until then. My inclination is to close them off so that the girls don't get used to sleeping or pooping there. Or will leaving them open with nesting materials make them more familiar with the surroundings when they are ready to lay eggs? Advice greatly appreciated.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I keep them blocked off or removed from the coop until they are at point of lay. You will see the combs getting redder and the pullets will tend to do an "egg squat" in the weeks leading up to the first egg.
"egg squat" is what folks call the position the hen takes for the rooster to do his thing. I know it sounds odd but it is otherwise difficult to describe. The hen will flare her wings and drop her breast bone to the ground. They will also do this when the caretaker (human) comes in the run or coop. It is a submissive posture. It is something that you cannot miss when it happens lol.

 

[Talithahorse]

I think this is really personal choice. As mine are a mixed flock with someone laying or brooding all the time, I just gently "kick" the babies out of the nest box every evening for a week or two until they stop trying to sleep there. If all of yours are in the same condition then I would just close off the nest box until close to point of lay (when they are due to start laying), then open up the boxes and put fresh bedding. I also will make it look nest like, cluck to the girls like a rooster would and put a golf ball in the nest to they get the idea. (mine are so spoiled).

Good luck and welcome to BYC

 

[ChickenMammX4]

I asked this same question recently. Since our girls are about 15 weeks and starting to get red combs I was advised to open up the nesting boxes so they could explore. They roost at night on a board higher than the nesting boxes and perch in front so not too worried about them sleeping in them.

So far it doesn't look like any of them have explored or shown interest.

 

[tcstoehr]

In my experience, the sooner the better. Get them familiar with those boxes so when the time comes to lay, they don't have to go looking for a place to do it. If they start sleeping in the boxes, then I would block them off. But a good roosting bar seems way more attractive to them.