change in nesting boxes, now chickens aren't laying

[Jessimom]

My chickens are all about 7 months old. Over the past 2 months they have all started laying (all but 1). We have 13 hens and we have been getting between 10 and 12 eggs per day. They had access to cat carriers on the ground. All chickens would only use 1 carrier, and take turns - except for the one chicken that jumps the fence and goes under some railroad ties and lays her egg (then paces around the chicken run until someone lets her back in).

Sunday afternoon we finally built true nesting boxes about 2 1/2 feet off the ground. Yesterday was the first day with no cat carrier nesting boxes, and we only got 5 eggs. I physically put the hens in the nesting boxes as they were pacing and crying. Only 3 eggs were found in the nesting boxes. One was outside the pen (rr ties), the other on the floor of the coop.

Today, we've only seen 4 eggs - one on the floor of the coop, one under the railroad ties, and 2 in the boxes.

Will they get used to the nesting boxes? How do we encourage them to use them? For the hen laying in the middle of the floor - how do we discourage that?

Thank you for any info you can give us!!!!

Kathy

 

[GitaBooks]

Hens can be stubborn about where they lay.

I would suggest returning some of their old nest boxes for a few days, to get them laying again. Than put some really nice bedding into the new nest boxes, put some nice fake-eggs (or even real eggs) into them to make them look real nice and attractive. When the hens start using the real nest boxes (even just a few of them), remove the crates.


Best of luck!

 

[aart]

Yeah, they don't like change much...may take a few days to a week or more for them to acclimate.

The new nests are up higher, so that makes it harder when they are used to the ground nests.
Is it possible to slowly raise the old nest day by day until it's at the same level as the new nests?

Are the new nests easy to access...perches to get on before entering nest?
Good size or at least comparable to the old nests?
Are they as cozy and 'safe' feeling as the old nests?

 

[azygous]

What I would try is returning one of the crates to the nest box area, but place it directly on a nest box.

I've found that if you can combine a bit of the old with the new, it will get chickens to accept change more easily. When they are using the crate set on the nest box for a few days, remove it.

 

[Jessimom]

Thanks for the great advice everyone!! We will try adding the old nesting crate underneath the new boxes, and slowly raise it up to the same height as the others. Yes, the have easy access. We have their roosting pole across the aisle from the boxes and they can easily jump from the rooting pole over to the boxes. We made the boxes nice and comfy, leaving the old box relatively bare. I will have to pick up a few fake eggs and try that!! I'll let you know if it works!!!

 

[aart]

Thanks for the great advice everyone!! We will try adding the old nesting crate underneath the new boxes, and slowly raise it up to the same height as the others. Yes, the have easy access. We have their roosting pole across the aisle from the boxes and they can easily jump from the rooting pole over to the boxes. We made the boxes nice and comfy, leaving the old box relatively bare. I will have to pick up a few fake eggs and try that!! I'll let you know if it works!!!

Is there a perch in front of the new nests?