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Why wont they lay in the nest box?

post #1 of 13
7/10/12 at 7:11am
Thread Starter 

My chickens just started laying about 2 days ago so i have chocked it up to inexperience but i am unsure...why wont they lay in the box, i am sure the box is large enough how ever it is very hot her i have vents but it is still uncomfortable im sure. i have found them all under the roost in the coop they don't peck them or anything but i am concerned that if they are sitting on the roost while they lay, the eggs will get cracked or broken once they get a bit bigger...any answers?  idunno.gif

1-doberman/lab 1-catahoula/austrailian sheppard 1-black jersey giant 1-welsummer bantam 1-golden comet 1-light brahma 1-buff brahma 1-grey silke 1-??? baby chick have no idea 4 cats and 3 kids : we have our hands full!

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1-doberman/lab 1-catahoula/austrailian sheppard 1-black jersey giant 1-welsummer bantam 1-golden comet 1-light brahma 1-buff brahma 1-grey silke 1-??? baby chick have no idea 4 cats and 3 kids : we have our hands full!

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post #2 of 13
7/10/12 at 7:28am

It is very common for new layers to just drop their eggs wherever they please.

 

Have you tried putting fake eggs in the nest boxes? That helped my hens figure out where to lay. You can use anything that is in the shape and about the same size of an egg (golf balls, plastic easter eggs etc.). Just place one in every nest box.

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post #3 of 13
7/10/12 at 7:33am
Thread Starter 

will do! thank you! i am glad to hear that my chickens aren't weird or just lazy :) they are good girls i guess it will just take a little learning. thumbsup.gif

1-doberman/lab 1-catahoula/austrailian sheppard 1-black jersey giant 1-welsummer bantam 1-golden comet 1-light brahma 1-buff brahma 1-grey silke 1-??? baby chick have no idea 4 cats and 3 kids : we have our hands full!

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1-doberman/lab 1-catahoula/austrailian sheppard 1-black jersey giant 1-welsummer bantam 1-golden comet 1-light brahma 1-buff brahma 1-grey silke 1-??? baby chick have no idea 4 cats and 3 kids : we have our hands full!

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post #4 of 13
7/10/12 at 7:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by captainmommy3 View Post

will do! thank you! i am glad to hear that my chickens aren't weird or just lazy :) they are good girls i guess it will just take a little learning. thumbsup.gif

Your chickens are definitaly not weird or lazy, they are completely normal. They just need to be shown where to lay, that's all. smile.png

Enjoy those fresh eggs!

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post #5 of 13
7/10/12 at 8:21am

I have older hens that had been laying in the coop but during this heat decided to lay a couple out in the run.  Have a large coop (repurposed dog house with a roost bar inside) and they have chosen a corner to nest in.  I have noticed the dominate hen chases everyone else out when she is in there (except at night) and maybe the others just couldn't wait???  Haha maybe I just answered my own question.

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post #6 of 13
7/11/12 at 8:09am
Thread Starter 

So UPDATE! i put golf balls in all of my nest boxes yesterday i dont know how it worked so fast but i had 2 eggs in the box this morning!!! WOOHOO! yesss.gif

1-doberman/lab 1-catahoula/austrailian sheppard 1-black jersey giant 1-welsummer bantam 1-golden comet 1-light brahma 1-buff brahma 1-grey silke 1-??? baby chick have no idea 4 cats and 3 kids : we have our hands full!

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1-doberman/lab 1-catahoula/austrailian sheppard 1-black jersey giant 1-welsummer bantam 1-golden comet 1-light brahma 1-buff brahma 1-grey silke 1-??? baby chick have no idea 4 cats and 3 kids : we have our hands full!

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post #7 of 13
7/11/12 at 9:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by captainmommy3 View Post

So UPDATE! i put golf balls in all of my nest boxes yesterday i dont know how it worked so fast but i had 2 eggs in the box this morning!!! WOOHOO! yesss.gif

That is great news! ya.gif

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How to Insert Pictures on the BYC Forum: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/inserting-pics-in-on-the-new-byc 

 

"Dogs work with us, not for us"- Unknown

 

 

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post #8 of 13
7/11/12 at 4:16pm

What an awesome and simple solution! I love it. I'm going to have to remember this for my girls, they haven't started laying yet. 

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doTERRA essential oils are a great way to keep your family healthy, both on the inside and out. They can be used to treat aches and pains, mood management, many different health issues and more. Interested? Ask me about it!

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post #9 of 13
7/11/12 at 4:38pm

Now that your hens are laying, make sure oyster shells are available. Put it in a separate feeder from feed or the grit.

 

Enjoy your fresh eggs!!

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post #10 of 13
1/15/13 at 10:27am
I have six hens, about 21 weeks. One started laying, but not in the boxes. I have had fake eggs in there since November. The boxes are on the floor. She flies up to the roof of the coop, which is a flower garden, digs a hole and lays there. I have tried taking her out when she hops up there and putting her in the boxes right before she lays, no luck. I tried leaving her locked in to encourage her to use the boxes, but the laid under the roosting bar (eewww). Any other ideas? BTW, I have pine shavings in the boxes with the wooded eggs, not straw, could that be a problem? Advice appreciated smile.png I a, thrilled to death though. These are our first chickens and we got our first egg ON MY BIRTHDAY!! Pretty exciting!
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