A Few Steps Backwards...

[PaulOlson68]

So most of my 26 young hens are starting to lay regularly now. Most are using he nesting boxes which is great. I have ping pong balls in the boxes so they know where to go. Although the balls are white and my Rhode Island Reds lay brown eggs...never thought that might be an issue...LOL

Anyways, after a few weeks of laying in nesting boxes, I found four outside in the run. Today they were all inside again but four were not in the boxes. If the laying outside in the run continues should I close the coop for a few days so they get used to using the boxes again? That was my first inclination. Thoughts?

Appreciate the help!

 

[aart]

How many nets do you have.....and are they all easily accessible?
I don't think the color of the fakies is an issue, but the lightness of the ping pong balls might be. Golf balls would be better, unless you can fill the ping pong balls with sand.

 

[PaulOlson68]

It is interesting...the last two days there have been no eggs outside at all and all but two or three of my 23 eggs layed were in the coop but not in the nesting boxes. I have 9 nesting boxes that are very easily accessible.