I have 11 hens and 1 rooster, they began laying in the past couple weeks and I found 2 nests they like to use in my yard. I am trying to train them to use the nesting boxes but there are some problems. At first, 2 hens would lay in the nesting boxes no problem, but after awhile they seemed to have started laying in the yard with the rest. Well, I locked them in the coop/run for three and a half days and I had a pretty steady 6 or so eggs a day in the nesting boxes. I'm not sure if all have begun laying yet, I'm thinking they haven't. Well, today I decide to let them out to free range and instantly 2 of them start sprinting for their yard nests... like a little kid that has to go to the bathroom that has been holding it, sprinting for the bathroom.
So it appears at least 3 of the chickens went straight for their nests and wanted nothing to do with the nesting boxes. One point of concern is the privacy issue, I'm thinking maybe the nesting boxes are not private enough for the girls to be comfortable laying in. Well any ideas would be great. Should I just lock them up for a week? two weeks? or should I move my nesting boxes inside. Room is limited in my dinky coop is why I originally placed in the run. Maybe I'll have to build protruding boxes.
So it appears at least 3 of the chickens went straight for their nests and wanted nothing to do with the nesting boxes. One point of concern is the privacy issue, I'm thinking maybe the nesting boxes are not private enough for the girls to be comfortable laying in. Well any ideas would be great. Should I just lock them up for a week? two weeks? or should I move my nesting boxes inside. Room is limited in my dinky coop is why I originally placed in the run. Maybe I'll have to build protruding boxes.
