A chicken who won't lay in the nest box.

[JennaPonraj]

My black australorp who just started laying decided to lay in the coop. My other 3 layers lay in the nest box though. Anyone know how to get a chicken to start laying in a nest box?
Thanks!

 

[aoxa]

Chicken see chicken do. Put fake eggs in the nesting boxes and eventually she will get it.

What breed is she? Silkies or heavy breeds are less likely to jump up into a nesting box to lay. What is your nesting box like?

 

[MrsRobinson]

We are new to raising chickens. We have 3 White Rocks and 1 Americana that are all 5 mths old. At this time only 2 of the White Rocks seem to be laying eggs. Since we let them free roam, we have had the same problem. We found 4 eggs in various spots in the yard and also in the coop. We took everyone suggestion of placing golf balls in the nesting boxes, making sure we fluffed the beds in the evening and placed the nesting boxes in dark places. It's getting better. The 2 that are laying eggs seem to be laying them in the nesting boxes finally. We usually get 2 eggs a day, but occasionally only get one. It's a start.

We have also gotten 3 eggs with double yolks...that has been kind of cool.

 

[JennaPonraj]

Chicken see chicken do. Put fake eggs in the nesting boxes and eventually she will get it.
What breed is she? Silkies or heavy breeds are less likely to jump up into a nesting box to lay. What is your nesting box like?

Shes a Black australorp.

 

[crumptz]

I have 5 hens... all new layers (finally). 3 out of 5 of them laid their first couple eggs on the floor and then they sorta just figured it out. Took 'em a few days. Today was my first day getting 5 eggs all in the nest! I'm proud

 

[Buttercup1979]

I'm so happy there is a recent post on this! My 4 hens are about 20 weeks old and one of them laid their first egg last Friday and second on Saturday. Then no eggs. They laid them on the corner of the coop floor against the bright window, and even though I messed it up and tried to make the nest boxes cozier looking (meaning nest like), she still laid on the floor the second time. Now all this past week I have been checking the coop and boxes feverishly with no eggs. So here's my NEW problem. We had to be gone today so they were only in the run and coop rather than free range and when I went to let them out I saw a nest in the same corner I mess up and yellow yolk on the floor! They ate the egg! I don't know who's laying and now I don't know who at the egg. The nest boxes are built to chicken loving specifications with two golf balls. What in the world do I now do with chickens who don't lay in boxes and now EATING their own yummy eggs?