Sleeping on the floor of the (future) laying box?

[maisyandtall]

I have my two 14 week old black Australorps in what is designed to be a rabbit hutch. It has two levels and the upstairs part has two rooms, one completely enclosed and the other part has wire on one side. We put a roost in the area with the wire on one side and the chickens were happily sleeping on it and not going into the enclosed room at all. Suddenly they are sleeping on the floor of the enclosed room.

My question is - what age do you need to start providing straw or something for them to lay in. I know they aren't ready to lay yet but if they start treating that part as their bedroom then where will they lay when they "come-of-age"? Is there any issues with them sleeping on the ground instead of roosting? Should I be actively putting them back on the roost at night?

Thanks for any guidance.

 

[Opa]

It helps to have your roost higher than your nest. You probably should block access to the nest until much closer to point of lay.