When should I present nest boxes?

[Bugdude]

Ohhh man... so theres like a timeline on when you are supposed to present boxes? I had built in the box into the coop when i made the coop. It has never been covered. The girls are about 20 weeks old.. should I cover it like someone had suggested? Will it being blocked for a week or so draw interist to it?

Do you think there was any harm in giving them access to the laying box from the start?

 

[WA23]

Quote:
I would not be concerned in the least. The reason I covered mine up was because they were messing in them and they are only about 4 months old. I did not want bad habbits to form, nor was looking forward to cleaning them out constantly when it was not necessary. Yours sound about ready to lay. I would not cover them up now, but I am not the last word of advice since I am fairly new to chickens.