Anyone else/got ideas?

Do you keep fake eggs or golf balls in the nests?? Chickens prefer to lay in a nest with and "egg" in it already, as that's supposed to be a sign of a safe nest. Have you sat in the coop to observe what goes on in there?? If not, you might try it. Maybe someone is being a bully regarding the nest boxes??? I'm not sure how to retrain, other than closing her in the coop for a day or two during "laying hours."

 

LOL, that action of throwing straw over their back is a common nesting action and not weird at all. As for the hen laying in random places, I would pen her alone in a small pen with a nest box containing one egg, either real or artificial. Some folks use a golf ball. Get her used to laying in the nest and then turn her back with the others. Put a nest egg (or golf ball) in the regular nests also. No guarrentees, but just an educated recommendation.........Pop

 

I've had some success locking them in the nest box when I catch them trying to lay on the floor. Not perfect success but some. Usually I leave them locked in until they lay the egg and then I let them out. This usually takes aboout 1/2 hour. However, I have left a hen locked in there for over 2 hours and she never did lay. I did catch the same hen the next day back in her normal spot on the floor. I locked her up again and she finally laid an egg. She has been using that nest box since then. Others have not been as difficult.

I am a firm believer in always leaving a fake egg in the nests. I'm convinced it makes a lot of difference.

 

Quote:LOL, no I live in GA. I have a home in WPB, FL. where I grew up. The Asil, Brazilian, and Thai are gamefowl breeds that I dearly love. My geese are White Chinese and Emden. I can see how that could get confusing. Always been drawn to the exotic........Pop