Chickens won't lay in nesting boxes!

[Ramblin Rooster]

I just bought some nesting boxes for my 5 hens and they will not lay in it! We tried golf balls, putting their eggs in there after they are layed, and even putting them in there for half an hour with some eggs to try to give them the hint, Yet they still lay in the corner of their coop! Why? They can get up there because they do and the vet said it was a perfect height and good location but it still doesn't have a single egg layed there! How do I convince them to lay there?

 

[chickendude9]

Well if there store bought then they should be the "best of the best" quality. So I wouldn't say there's a problem there. Did they have nestboxes before they started laying? Because if these are brand new and they have never seen nestboxes before then it may take awhile for them to get used to them being there.

 

[Ramblin Rooster]

the nesting boxes have been there a few months

 

[sezjasper]

Are the nest boxes portable or have you permanently installed them where you want them to be?

 

[aldrinpogi]

Try to put some dry leaves inside your nest box at least cover whatever is in your nest box with regular dry leaves. My chicken used to lay eggs under the tree using those dry leaves so I put those dry leaves in their nesting boxes and it works. Hope it will helps. Good luck.

 

[sezjasper]

Try to put some dry leaves inside your nest box at least cover whatever is in your nest box with regular dry leaves. My chicken used to lay eggs under the tree using those dry leaves so I put those dry leaves in their nesting boxes and it works. Hope it will helps. Good luck.

The dry leaves suggestion made me laugh...and it must work...as the picture below shows...

I thought my hens had slacked off in the egg production, until I found their secret nest behind the heat pump. 18 eggs I had to throw out OMG!!

 

[Nutcase]

I just bought some nesting boxes for my 5 hens and they will not lay in it! We tried golf balls, putting their eggs in there after they are layed, and even putting them in there for half an hour with some eggs to try to give them the hint, Yet they still lay in the corner of their coop! Why? They can get up there because they do and the vet said it was a perfect height and good location but it still doesn't have a single egg layed there! How do I convince them to lay there?

Portable nesting boxes are better than permanent ones. If yours can be moved, you should try putting them on top of the place where they are currently laying. That will probably limit their nesting options so they'll start to consider the nests you've provided. I don't know why you've had no luck with golf balls - they always work for me..?
Good luck!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

If they're laying in one spot where you don't want them to lay then eliminate that spot. Block it off in some fashion so they can't lay there. Maybe that will push them to use the nesting boxes.

Good luck!

 

[truckguy]

My birds are about laying age and my nest boxes are portable so I can taken them out. I put golf balls in there too. But right now they are roosting like they should at night.

Not sure when laying egg time is. Is it during the day?

 

[Nutcase]

My birds are about laying age and my nest boxes are portable so I can taken them out. I put golf balls in there too. But right now they are roosting like they should at night.

Not sure when laying egg time is. Is it during the day?

It all depends on the timing of their... bodily functions. But yes, they are most likely to lay during the day.