Chickens won't lay in the nesting box

[MattH]

My chickens won't lay eggs in the nesting box. They laid their first egg about 3 weeks ago, as soon as I saw it I opened up the nesting boxs. I had a board covering them so they wouldnt sleep in them as they got used to the coop and their roosting poles. They will only lay in the corners of the coop, underneath their roosting poles more often then not. I've tried leaving golf balls and even their own eggs in the nesting boxes, but they continue not to lay there. Any help? Thanks.

 

[mpchick]

You can buy a ceramic egg to put in the nesting boxes. I use one and it works pretty well, you can get it at Agway. It will encourage them to lay in the boxes.
-mpchick

 

[MattH]

Ok I'll try that. I'll be getting more chickens in March and I'd like the chickens I have now to show the new ones where to lay. But it's not working right now.

 

[Mutt Farm]

Hi! Welcome!

By keeping the nest boxes covered until after they started laying, you didn't give them the option to investigate and choose the boxes as a safe preferred place to lay. They usually have a look around for a couple weeks before that first egg. I suggest you put whatever type bedding they laid in into the nest box and completely strip the floor of the coop of any bedding. Block the corners where they have been laying. Good luck!

 

[MattH]

Good idea. It's about time I cleaned out my coop anyways, I've been using the deep litter method. Haha, I like that.. "Chilling with my peeps"

 

[aart]

Are the nests easy to access, both getting up into and down out of?

 

[MattH]

Yes, they are just a few inches above the height of the floor of the coop,

 

[aart]

Ah Good....fake eggs in nests and put a bucket(or something) in the place they are laying on the floor so they can't lay there.

 

[MattH]

I did everything yall told me to do except put a fake egg in the nesting box. I checked my coop today and there were eggs in the nesting boxs! Thank you all so much. I put rocks in all the corners of the coop and took all the bedding out of the coop except what was in the nesting boxs. When can I put bedding back into the coop? Thanks.

 

[Mutt Farm]

I did everything yall told me to do except put a fake egg in the nesting box. I checked my coop today and there were eggs in the nesting boxs! Thank you all so much. I put rocks in all the corners of the coop and took all the bedding out of the coop except what was in the nesting boxs. When can I put bedding back into the coop? Thanks.

Wonderful! Don't know how many more are set to start laying, but give it a bit with no bedding until eggs are in the boxes. Once one does it right the rest should follow along. Great news for you!