Crazy places to lay an egg

[roheryn]

My girls completely disregard the fences we have up... They just fly over or actually climb the fence to get out of their open space and join us on the deck. And my two EEs think our deck shelves are perfect for laying eggs. They will jump up to the lop levels (its 6 ft!), push the items on the shelves off, scratch up the wood and lay an egg (which will sometimes roll off) Crazy girls. So, since I can't prevent them from doing this, I moved one of my egg boxes (which they were ignoring in the coop) to the top shelf, and voila, now we have chickens laying in two egg boxes. Its not safe from predators, but since I work at home and rarely travel, I can collect every day. I guess if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

 

[misterwaterfallin]

Why not clip their wings if you want them to stay in their designated area?

 

[roheryn]

Why not clip their wings if you want them to stay in their designated area?

I've done that in the past, but the bantams are show chickens, and they need their wings intact. It seems unfair to clip some wings and not others. And I really don't mind much, I like going out and talking to the girls, herding them back into their area, and watching them pop right back out. They have to go up a big hill to get to the top of their open field, and its funny to watch them run up and down. Plus, I've seen them climb the fence with clipped wings...its quite a sight.

 

[aart]

So, since I can't prevent them from doing this

Oh, but you could.....
Mesh roof on top of fence.
and/or
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[roheryn]

Oh, but you could.....
Mesh roof on top of fence.
and/or
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

Probably have to "retrain" them. I only have 5, and 3 still lay in the coop nest. No matter how many nests I put in the coop, they always only lay in 1. I can't add a roof to the fences, it separates a half acre. I have nets across the lower run and the ramp to the upper pasture, for protection mostly against hawks, but once they get to the upper pasture, its open skies (and a lot of bushes and trees) So they run up the hill, and over the fence. They do go back on their own though, they don't spend all day on my deck. The girls laying in the shelf box are my "christmas" EEs, they are about 14 months old, but they know where they are supposed to lay eggs. This is a new thing for spring apparently.

 

[aart]

Probably have to "retrain" them. I only have 5, and 3 still lay in the coop nest. No matter how many nests I put in the coop, they always only lay in 1. I can't add a roof to the fences, it separates a half acre.

Add a fake egg to each nests, that'll 'spread the love'.
So no secure run?
Is coop big enough to confine them there for most the day?

 

[roheryn]

Add a fake egg to each nests, that'll 'spread the love'.
So no secure run?
Is coop big enough to confine them there for most the day?

They have a fake egg in the coop nest, but of course one of my bantams always wants to go broody, and I suspect that is what made the others look for alternates. I put all the fake eggs in the second box, but nope, they only want that one box. Sometimes they would sit on top of the bantam to lay their eggs. And I have secured what I can, but the upper level is too big. I know its a risk, but there are lots of trees and shrubs that they spend most of the time under. They rarely venture into the wide open space. And of course most of the cover is right at the fence. I could restrict them to the lower run for the morning, to make sure they lay in the right place... at least for a bit

 

[aart]

but of course one of my bantams always wants to go broody

Geezzz, just one 'problem' after another, eh?