a perfect nest box?

[wpchicks]

We have had our chickens just under a month and found our first egg cracked beneath the perch. I wasn't
actually expecting to find our first egg in the box but I would sure like to get them there asap. We have golf
balls in there and they spend the majority of their time in the coop so I'm wondering if there is anything
else we can do to make the nest boxes more attractive for egg laying. Are they too open, not dark enough maybe?
Any insights would help.

(and incase you couldn't tell, the boxes are just behind the feeder, which actually isn't there anymore)

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Gosh what a pretty coop!

 

[HEChicken]

They'll get the hang of it. The first few, they don't really know what's happening, so don't know to seek out the nest box. Once they get the hang of it, they'll head to the nest box when they "feel the urge".

 

[ezgreen]

Coop envy!

My chickens do not get in their boxes often. They mostly lay eggs in the doghouse! lol

 

[wpchicks]

Ya it was pretty, now it's covered in chicken poop - "ewe that's nasty" as my three year old says.
He loves to go help daddy clean out the chicken coop, but he calls it the "chicken poop".

As we've been going out to check for eggs but have only found golf balls thus far, he's been telling
everyone that "my chickens no lay eggs, they lay olf balls." Now wouldn't that be a fun business,
home grown organic golf balls.

Hopefully soon the other two will be laying as well (and in the boxes of course)

 

[mississippifarmboy]

That's so cute!

 

[TomG]

very nice chicken poop.

 

[wpchicks]

We went to check on the chickens this morning and found little Cookie in the nest box. I wasn't sure if she was laying an egg or just hanging out in there.
But she kind of gave me that look like I'd just walked in on her going to the bathroom. Went back to check a little bit later and there it was, a cute little brown egg,
nestled on top of three golf balls.

So my hens are supposed to lay about 3 eggs a week, is it possible that when they first start laying to lay two days in a row? Or do I have two chickens now laying eggs?
Either way we are very excited, and huge bonus that it was done in the nest box. YIPPEEE SKIPPEEEE!

 

[ezgreen]

Yay for the cute little brown egg!

 

[nanawendy]

Keep hoping, It will eventually happen. I walked each "lady" up the ramp, then gave her "the talk" reminding her from whence her bread is buttered...with in a day they were laying in the nests. BUT I sure it would of happened anyway. Each new batch of pullets lay an egg or two on the coop floor. I've even found one in the entrance to the second run. Like kids being potty trained...it will happen...eventually