Buried eggs

[JuJubeann]

I decided to give having chickens a go for the first time in over 20 years. My first experience was horrifying. I was young and had no experience raising chickens. But I lived in the country and decided to try. My local feed and seed had baby chick's in an I grabbed about 50. There was a nice size coop and run already on the property so that part was a breeze. Long story short raise them up to 6 months and didn't lose a single one. Then all hell broke loose about 3 nights on a row. Something was getting in the window and clipping their head off. Lost every single one....I was devistated.

Now I live in town and only allowed 6 hens. I bought 5 pullets that were 8 weeks old. Although my coop could easily hold 6 to 8 hens my run just wasn't big enough for 5. I designed it and my hubby built it for me. Letting two of my girls go was the only choice I could make. They were just reaching laying age and we're really big chickens. A co-worker of my husband's agreed to take them in and we carried them over. The run was very nice and large so I was relieved they would be well cared for there. We went by to see them and they seemed very happy so we're happy. Needless to say the coop is much calmer and happier.

My babies are starting to lay now they do their egg song and of course I go to check on them. Belinda and Glenda are my buff orpingtons and super friendly but Karot (americauna)has been a bit shy until the last few days. Whenever I go out to give them their treat she quickly runs up stair inside the coop and ask to be given hers there. Like a good chicken mommy I comply. lol The last two days when I put the treat in the coop she turns her back to me and sits for me to pet her. She's the sweetest thing. Sorry guys this is becoming a book. It's just that I have no one to brag to about my girls.

So now for the question finally. Haha my chickens have been burying their eggs in the run. Why are they doing that? They won't lay in the coop. We keep it very clean...well for a chicken coop and they have nice nesting boxes with clean excelsior in them. We keep food in there but not water because they like to make a huge mess with it. What can I do to get them to lay eggs in the coop? Thanks for all your help.

 

[JuJubeann]

Several typos above the auto correct on my phone hates me. lol Haven't figured out how to edit yet.

 

[kgb6days]

I'm no expert, but have you tried putting fake eggs in the nesting boxes? That's what I did on the recommendations of experienced chicken owners.

 

[JuJubeann]

Ahhh, I haven't but I'll give it a try. They won't even go in the boxes maybe this will help. Thanks

 

[dekel18042]

I'm no expert, but have you tried putting fake eggs in the nesting boxes? That's what I did on the recommendations of experienced chicken owners.

X2 or you can use golf balls if you have them, You could also keep your birds locked in the coop for a day or so. Once they start laying in the nest boxes, they usually keep on laying there.

 

[JuJubeann]

I'll give it a try as well. They really like their coop so that shouldn't be a problem for them. Thank you both for your responses.

 

[carlf]

Quote:I assume you know what sqatting is?

Yes, put fake eggs or golf balls in the nest boxes. Can they see into the nest boxes when standing in the coop?

 

[chickens really]

This is what I do....I never use fake eggs...Never have, never will...
If you can ? put up a curtain on your nest boxes...Sometimes they freak out a bit laying the first eggs...I never worry and all my hens have always started to use the nest boxes...Right now as I type my Danish Brown is in a nest box laying her first egg..She is 19 weeks yesterday....I know I will find eggs on the ground before all 11 work out the kinks.....

Best of luck....
Cheers!

 

[JuJubeann]

Hi carlf, yes I know what squatting is but this seems a little different. They can see in them but I did put them a little high to use space more effeciently. Originally I had built in boxes but all 5 chickens would pile into one. It was really super hot and concerned me so I took out four boxes and left two. I keep water in one and feed in the others. I bought three nesting boxes from TSC that you mount on the wall thinking they would be easy to clean. They don't seems to like them though.

 

[carlf]

Quote:
Yep, that's how chickens operate.
For some reason they don't like your current setup. Figuring out why is tricky. Might want to try locking them in the coop for 2-3 days and force them to lay in there.
My nest boxes are on the back of the coop, at floor level. I have 3 but the hens all lay in one. When my broody hen was setting, they made a nest in the corner of the coop instead of using one of the other nest boxes. Go figure.