When should my pullets have access to the nesting boxes

[Princess Lay- A]

My pullets are 14 weeks old , when should I open up the nesting boxes so they can get used to them?

 

[WingItRanch]

Are they roosting to sleep? The main reason to restrict access to nest boxes when they're young is to prevent them from sleeping and pooping in them. I would think by 14 weeks, they should be good.

 

[Shadrach]

My pullets are 14 weeks old , when should I open up the nesting boxes so they can get used to them?

Now.
At three and a half months old they are unlikely to be at the point of lay, but unless there is a particular reason you've section the nest boxes off I prefer to have the space available in the nest boxes. It can be handy for example for a pullet who gets bullied at roost time to sleep in. Sometimes hens will just choose to sleep in a nest box, perhaps because they feel ill, perhaps just wanting their own space for a night or two. It's very rare in my experience for a pullet or hen to make nest box sleeping a matter of habit.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I think mine were 15-16 weeks and starting to really redden up when I added the hemp bedding and fake eggs to the nest boxes. The boxes were just bare floor before that.

I would have done it sooner if any were early-laying production breeds. Also, mine had slept on roosts since night 1 at 7 1/2 weeks and have stayed put ever since.

It was very cute occasionally seeing the Easter Egger in a box, pulling hemp up and tucking it around her body to make her nest. She started laying 2 weeks later, and other than the first egg that “fell out” onto the coop floor, they’ve all been in the nest box.