I have a small flock of six chickens and several of them have started laying outside of the coop in the flower garden under one of my windows this week. One of the chickens had been broody until about a week ago (she has not started laying yet after being broody) and I'm wondering if her broodiness could be part of the problem. While she was broody I would remove her from the nesting box throughout the day but would often find that the eggs laid by the other girls were either pecked or had been rolled out of the nesting box and broken.
I keep the nesting boxes very clean and a couple of the chickens do use them. I have four nesting boxes, which sounds like a lot but I usually have a few more chickens. This morning there was one egg in a box but it was broken. I let my chickens free range all day and when I went to let them out this morning three of them headed straight to the flower garden. I tried removing the chickens from the spot yesterday but they kept returning and three ended up laying there. I'm wondering if perhaps I should keep them in their run that is attached to the coop for a few days to break the behavior. I have also put a couple fake eggs in the boxes.
I have not had this happen before so truly appreciate any advice you may have. Thank you!
I keep the nesting boxes very clean and a couple of the chickens do use them. I have four nesting boxes, which sounds like a lot but I usually have a few more chickens. This morning there was one egg in a box but it was broken. I let my chickens free range all day and when I went to let them out this morning three of them headed straight to the flower garden. I tried removing the chickens from the spot yesterday but they kept returning and three ended up laying there. I'm wondering if perhaps I should keep them in their run that is attached to the coop for a few days to break the behavior. I have also put a couple fake eggs in the boxes.
I have not had this happen before so truly appreciate any advice you may have. Thank you!