We are building the coop.We need to finish predator proofing and add the trim and door. Should we go ahead and put the nest boxes in as soon as we get them built or wait until the girls are closer to laying age? If I put them in now I can fill them with empty milk jugs as someone else mentioned. If I wait will it cause a major stress factor when we do install them? Thanks, Diana
Just put them in now. It doesnt really matter. You dont need to put milk jugs in them. They just throw a few fake eggs in eack box when the girls turn about 15 weeks. they will figgure it out. Just make sure they are lower than the roosts, or they will be sleeping in them, and that means poop in them. The babies might sleep in them, since you dont have any hens so they wont know what they are right away.
I agree with placing them in the coop right away. Chickens don't deal well with change, so it's better that they are there in place, and no adjustment to the flock is necessary. bigzio