Chicken Laying In A Bush

[CountyLine765]

Hello,

First time chicken keeper here and first post. I have 13 hens and two roosters. Several of the older hens have been laying now for several weeks. Theyve been in the coop now for months and they all return every night. I let them out around 700am and shut them up a little after sunset. They free range around my in laws and our houses and property. This morning, when i let them out, i saw one of the hens moving off quickly around my in laws house and i followed her. I fortunately heard her clucking and found her in a very thick bush laying on 20 eggs. She wasnt on them this afternoon and she returns to the coop at night. I have four nest boxes in the coop. Any suggestions on getting her to lay in the nest boxes? More privacy in the nest boxes? Leave the,pm in until later?

Thanks for any help,
Brent

 

[sylviethecochin]

Locking her in the coop will re-train her to lay there. Also inspect the nest boxes for missing bedding or mites. Those can cause a hen to avoid the box.

 

[CountyLine765]

Thank you. I have some pyrethrin garden and poultry dust that i have put a light amount in a couple locations they like to dust bathe. Do you know if its safe to put this in their nest boxes bedding material?

 

[aart]

I would not suspect pests in nests right off the bat,
they just need to be 'trained' to the coop nests.
Have they ever laid in coop nests, 20 egg in bush indicates probably not??
Do you have any fake eggs/golf balls in nests to use as bait in coop nests?

Unless you don't mind them laying where ever they want:
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 3-4 days (or longer) 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 24/7 for a few days to a week, 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.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Thank you. I have some pyrethrin garden and poultry dust that i have put a light amount in a couple locations they like to dust bathe. Do you know if its safe to put this in their nest boxes bedding material?

I sprinkle a small amount of Garden and Poultry dust when I change the straw in the nest boxes monthly or sooner if an egg is broken. I also sprinkle a small amount on coop bedding when I change, weekly. And a light sprinkle on roosts weekly, to control mites/lice, haven't had to dust the hens yet. I also sprinkle at the bottom of coop doors to control tiny ants. GC

 

[aart]

I use DE as a preventative in nests under bedding.
Using any chemical insecticide(like pyrethrin) as a preventative can create resistance,
which would render it useless if you do get an infestation.

 

[CountyLine765]

Thank you for all the help