how do I get my hens to lay eggs in the nesting boxes

put golf balls in each nest box

Our hens used to lay in the nest boxes, no problem. Since we got 4 different ones in August, and they haven't laid much, then all of them started molting, etc., etc., We haven't had many eggs out of our (now) 6 hens for quite awhile and NONE at all in November. Just the past week, they have given me maybe 1 or 2 per day, but they're NOT laying in the boxes. In corners, nowhere close to the boxes.
This morning, I saw Chloe poking around, making her "spot" that I had must messed up. I picked her up and put her in a box, she hopped down and went straight to the other spot (on the floor...). We kept at this about 6-7 times and I gave up.
When I go back out, I'll move her egg to a box and see if the others follow, but I may not get any other eggs today, or maybe just one more. I'll also mess up her spot again and see what happens.

I thought they liked the hay better than the pine shavings that I had in the box in the Little Coop, but I changed the shavings to hay in the boxes before I moved Chloe so many times - she did wallow around a bit, but then hopped right back out. Stubborn bird!!

At least I'm getting an egg! Just don't want to step on one, forgetting it may not be where it's supposed to be! There's a golf ball in the box, too, but I think they don't care much about it. Ah, well, Life in Chickenville!


9pm: I bought some wooden eggs today and am going to paint 2 of them light brown and see if those will help!

My Hew Hampshire Red just started laying a few weeks ago, she lays them right in front of the door (It's a smaller coop, raised off the ground). It looks like she's making her own little nest, and laying right in the middle. something about the nest box is unappealing I guess, but I'm going to try the golf ball thing and see if that works!

Quote: This is exactly my predicament as well. I have 6 hens, and only 1 is laying, and has been for 3 weeks. I tried putting her in the box with her egg that she had just laid under her. Then I put a fake egg in 1 of the 3 nesting boxes. It has been there for about 8 days. She will not lay in the nesting box. I tried putting straw in there, still not using the box, so I put a mixture of chopped straw and pine shavings. Still not using that darn nesting box. I read somewhere that if you put a movable nesting box in the spot they are laying, and everyday move it a few inches towards the other nesting boxes. I started that 2 days ago, so far she has laid right in front of that portable nesting box! I don't want the other 5 to lay all over the coop when they start too.

I have 3 nesting boxes, they are about 6 inches off the floor and they are lower than all the roosts. They face 2 of the 3 windows. I did notice the corner she is laying on is darker and in the opposite corner of the door. Should I move my nesting boxes to the other side of the coop, or raise them, or what?