Anything I can do to encourage them to use the nestbox?

Some people put fake eggs  or golf balls in the nest box to give the hen the right idea.  Hopefully she will figure it out once she settles in more.

It can vary as far as how long they go off laying.  If one started back the others will probably start soon too.  Hopefully none of them are getting ready to molt, too.

I Heard put Eggs ( From the Store) golf Balls And fake Eggs in, That will work!

Do not put real eggs in the nest - if they break it and eat it, you will have a hard time getting them to stop, or the egg will rot.  Put either plastic easter eggs filled with a rock to weigh it down, wooden eggs or golf balls in the nest.

I have a cochin who liked to lay around the yard and on the floor of the coop. When I noticed her acting restless I kept putting her up in the nesting boxes, now she's gone broodt and only wants to come down to eat!!

I am trying to figure the same thing out. So far they seem to love to lay in the hardest to reach spot in the coop. I did put the plastic easter eggs in the nesting box but they seemed to be offended by them and would fling them around the pen. Filling them with rocks may be the next step.

I tried different things. I started with a lovely painted tri level nesting box set up. They only laid in the bottom corner. Then a new hen started hiding there, so they started laying in a box I had. Finally I got a cat carrier and they all like that - cozy, private - now I bought 2 more and all are being used. They seem to prefer hay as a bedding too - rather than shavings or anything else I've tried.