Arrghhhh... Why can't they use the nesting boxes????

[sixlittlechickens]

So I have 6 white silkies, 3 have been laying for about 2 weeks. But none of them lay in the nesting boxes!!!! Since I have a chicken with chronic crop issues, I replaced the shavings in the box with fleece, which the sick chicken cannot eat. There is a fake egg, and it is plenty big enough. I have tried everything to get them to lay IN the nesting boxes, rather than randomly in the coop/run. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have never had this problem before. Thanks!

 

[HappyDuckie]

Are they nesting boxes too high up, maybe? Silkies can't fly very well, they may not be able to reach them/

 

[sixlittlechickens]

They are maybe 3 inches off the ground.