- Apr 5, 2016
- 6
- 3
- 62
I am new to chickens and I have some questions about my hens as they approach laying age. I have five 15 week old hens that roost in a nice big coop I built them (6X8X6) with a loft with nesting boxes. The nesting boxes are in the loft and I have a golf ball in each one to encourage laying. The thing is, I let them out every morning around 7 am and let them free range all day. They immediately travel about 200 yards to the horse barn where they hang out for the entire day, and then return to the coop at night to roost (I lock it up at dusk every night). Am I dreaming to think that when they start laying they will return to the coop? Should I keep them in the coop until mid-day to encourage laying in their nesting boxes? Should I throw in the towel and put nesting boxes in the horse barn? If I do will they ever return to their coop again? I spend a lot of money and sweat building their coop so I'd really like them to use it. Thanks for your help!