Anything special I need to do to prepare my chickens for laying?

[aart]

Please help. My hens keep laying outside the coop. How do I make them lay IN the coop?

Did you miss this post @ReadingRAEnBo ?

If you free range, once the eggs actually appear, if they are not laying in the nests you might keep them confined to coop and run until they get used to using the nests.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[ReadingRAEnBo]

Yeah my brain had forgotten that post. I'm going to leave them in the coop/run for a couple of days I guess. I gave them multiple nesting box options and found 2 eggs in my old dog house today accompanied by a chicken .