Chicken won't use nesting box??

[newchck]

Update: all girls are using the nesting box! We didn't change anything, but it seems like Putin is laying very early in the day now (before sunrise!) so maybe she is a bit less territorial? Hopefully they all keep using it!

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

I noticed that my leghorns end up laying their eggs outside of the nest boxes if I’ve put the rough pine bedding in instead of the softer kind. I always add a little hay/straw on top & they love to use that, as long as the soft bedding is in. I wouldn’t choose to buy the rougher bedding if the store has the soft kind in stock. Can’t say I blame them for not wanting to sit in a box of pokey chips.

 

[newchck]

I noticed that my leghorns end up laying their eggs outside of the nest boxes if I’ve put the rough pine bedding in instead of the softer kind. I always add a little hay/straw on top & they love to use that, as long as the soft bedding is in. I wouldn’t choose to buy the rougher bedding if the store has the soft kind in stock. Can’t say I blame them for not wanting to sit in a box of pokey chips.

Yes we use the soft chopped straw as well

 

[4yearsofchickens]

We use grill mat (it's sort of absorptive and is double sided- it's used to put under a grill to keep grease stains from landing on your deck or whatever) cut up into the size of the box(12" by 12") for a lining. They are super easy to wash. In my experience, most chickens will eventually start using the boxes although there may be a few stubborn ones. When than happens, I try to catch her when she is about to lay an egg, and I put her in the box and cover the front until she has laid her egg. Make sure you stick around and get her out as soon as she is done! Usually she'll settle down pretty quickly and start scratching and arranging as soon as it gets dark in there. I did this with one of my chickens and after that she always lays her egg in the box--no more eggs on the floor!