Buff Orpington not laying in the write spot

[6-Hens-and-Me]

My buffs are refusing to lay in the best boxes, the sit just outside of them and make their nest, but as they don’t lay in the nest the eggs more or less always frack on the hard floor?

I’ve tried bigger nests but still nothing, I’ve also tried eggs in the nest but they refuse to sit on them, any suggestions? Because I fear if one of their eggs crack all the way then they will start eating them and I’ll just have yet another issue.

 

[sourland]

Do you have nesting material in the nest boxes and a large enough lip that they don't kick it out?

 

[6-Hens-and-Me]

Do you have nesting material in the nest boxes and a large enough lip that they don't kick it out?

Straw in nest boxes sawdust in the house, never had an issue in any other coops.

The lip is pretty big probably about 2-3inch’s but they just sit outside the nest box and pulll all the bedding out with their beaks and make a nest right out side

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How about pics of your nests and also what are dimensions of the nests in inches, length x width x height, please.

 

[6-Hens-and-Me]

I will go and measure them in a moment

 

[6-Hens-and-Me]

Length 11 inch
Width 11 inch
Height 8 to 14inch

 

[Ridgerunner]

By Buffs I assume you mean Buff Orps. Those nests should be big enough for them. Photos of the nests could be helpful, we might spot something.

The way I've solved that kind of problem is to catch them when they are laying an egg and lock them in my nest until the egg is laid. It usually only takes one time, sometimes two.

It sounds like all of your hens are doing this (however many that is) and not just one. That may make this harder.

Another possibility, make a frame that hold straw and put there, essentially moving the nests a few inches, if that will work for you.

 

[6-Hens-and-Me]

By Buffs I assume you mean Buff Orps. Those nests should be big enough for them. Photos of the nests could be helpful, we might spot something.

The way I've solved that kind of problem is to catch them when they are laying an egg and lock them in my nest until the egg is laid. It usually only takes one time, sometimes two.

It sounds like all of your hens are doing this (however many that is) and not just one. That may make this harder.

Another possibility, make a frame that hold straw and put there, essentially moving the nests a few inches, if that will work for you.

Yes, the hens in the Breeding group are doing this.

I’ve never in my life had an issue with these nesting boxes and nor have my parents so perhaps I will just lock them in the nest box till they are laid, I haven’t been able to to do this through because of work, so we’ll just wait and see.

 

[6-Hens-and-Me]

Yes, the hens in the Breeding group are doing this.

I’ve never in my life had an issue with these nesting boxes and nor have my parents so perhaps I will just lock them in the nest box till they are laid, I haven’t been able to to do this through because of work, so we’ll just wait and see.

Edit: the same nests have been used in all the different flocks I have and never had an issue, my parents used them before me and they can’t remember ever having hens do this.

 

[Mrs. K]

Hens can be funny with laying eggs, I have gone years with everyone doing it just fine in nests pretty similar to yours.

Then a new batch came into lay, they prefer the floor. Drove me crazy, I removed all bedding and put down feed sacks. They went back to the nests.

However, sometimes I will cave, shut the nest up, create something out of a box, straw, a bucket whatever, see if you can get them to lay there… wait a week or so, then reopen the nests. Mine will find them and lay like champs there.

They drive you crazy
Mrs k