I think it is one of the Barred Rock's that is laying in a milk crate that we placed in the coop as a temporary nesting box. She started laying in the past few days and she plops those suckers right in the middle. But our BO who started laying about 2 weeks ago puts them anywhere and everywhere but the box. Out in the run, in the straw of the coop, on the wire that seperates the rooting area from the poo box. She even found her way out of the coop area and into the "humans side" of the shed, and dropped one on the storage shelf. I'm not that worried about it but once I build a nesting box that perhaps her highness will approve of, will she likely retrain herself and drop them in the box?
I'm having the same problem, except neither of my hens lay in the nesting box. We have a bale of straw and they seem to like laying next to that. I'm thinking I need to move my nesting box over there. I even put a couple of golf balls in the box, which is suggested on this forum, and put them in it a couple times a day. I must have some slow learners. Anyway, if you come up with an easier way to get her to lay in the nesting box, let me know.
I am a rebellious human by nature...... I bet chickens have the same thing happening........I have one that lays anywhere she happens to be......... I can relate to her somehow
Make sure nests are closed in, sides, & top they like their privacy. I have an occasional egg on the ground but not very often. Place a wooden egg in the nest and leave it there for awhile to see if that will help. I move them every couple of days so none of the hens go broody. Good luck