How do I get my chickens to use their nest boxes?

Some of our girls just started laying... yesterday i found our first egg- in the dust bath. It was perfect! Today someone else laid a "top shelf" rubber egg ... and by top shelf i mean that it took her by surprise and she was still on the roost- splat onto the coop floor! We have our nest boxes out, but the only thing they seem to want to do with those is make a mess out of the hay. How can I entice them to lay eggs in them rather than just play in them? Thanks!

You might put some fake eggs or golf balls in the nests...or just wait....tho one of my just laying pullets wouldn't use the nest until I took the golf balls out of the nest.

The messing with the nest bedding is just part of laying, they are preparing a nice bowl to lay in.....they'll probably do it less once they get the hang of laying....but when I put fresh straw in the nests they need to do a little rearranging.

Keeping them confined to the coop for a few days, all day/night or at least until about mid afternoon, can help to acclimate them to laying in the nest.
 
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:) thank you for all your help! they have gotten the hang of the nesting boxes... we even had one try to go broody already
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thankfully we got her out of that quickly... she was trying to hatch a golf ball!
 
I have 6 chickens, 3 brown leghorns and 3 New Hampshire Reds. They have their coop but my husband was slow with getting the run completed. So they free ranged. They are 20 weeks. Very new to this. One of the Leghorns started laying on 3 days ago and had 2 tiny eggs, it was before the run was done, she skipped a day and has layer Friday and Saturday, but only if I let her out and she goes where she made her nest behind the shed. Will she get used to the nesting boxes? I also have a NHR nesting in the coop no interest in the boxes. Ideas please or suggestions?
 
I have 6 chickens, 3 brown leghorns and 3 New Hampshire Reds. They have their coop but my husband was slow with getting the run completed. So they free ranged. They are 20 weeks. Very new to this. One of the Leghorns started laying on 3 days ago and had 2 tiny eggs, it was before the run was done, she skipped a day and has layer Friday and Saturday, but only if I let her out and she goes where she made her nest behind the shed. Will she get used to the nesting boxes? I also have a NHR nesting in the coop no interest in the boxes. Ideas please or suggestions?
Welcome to BYC!


You might put some fake eggs or golf balls in the nests...or just wait....tho one of my just laying pullets wouldn't use the nest until I took the golf balls out of the nest.

The messing with the nest bedding is just part of laying, they are preparing a nice bowl to lay in.....they'll probably do it less once they get the hang of laying....but when I put fresh straw in the nests they need to do a little rearranging.

Keeping them confined to the coop for a few days, all day/night or at least until about mid afternoon, can help to acclimate them to laying in the nest.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 3-4 days (or longer) can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.
 
Did you keep them in the coop for about a week or two? I have a cage and a coop connected to it. I kept my first group of chickens in the coop for 2 week then let them out. They got used to the environment. So when it was time for them to lay eggs, they would lay them in the coop

My chickens have an enclosed run. Are you saying keep them in the coop itself for two weeks? I have one who laid 2 eggs and another who is squatting, but I haven't found any eggs. Thanks.
 

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