No they are not new to laying.
Yes I have some that use the nesting boxes.
Yes easily accessible but not dark and private, wondering if that would help?
I have a handful of hens that don't lay in the nesting box, I put golf balls in their boxes and when I see them laying other than the nesting box I pick them up and put them in there. What else can I do??
We are in the process of building a new coop so it will be bigger :)