Debutante lays her first eggs

[Mjoly]

My girls are about 5 ½ month old. My Maran has just started laying but has proceeded to do it under our porch steps. They free range from about 12-5 each day and want to encourager her and the rest of the gang to use the nesting boxes.
Any suggestions? Should I take one of the eggs and place it in the nesting box ?
Thanks in Advance ! Michelle

 

[rosemarythyme]

Use fake eggs. I just use golf balls. Would be nasty to leave a real egg to try and get them to lay in the box and then never get around to removing it and having it rot and explode in the nest box...

 

[cluckadoodledoo13]

I agree with rosemarythyme , try using wooden eggs or golf balls in the best box! They’ll soon get the hang of where they need to lay.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Along with the fake eggs in the nesting box, keep them confined to the coop about 3 days if you can.

Any that are laid on the floor, promptly place in the nesting box for a few hours so they get the hint.

 

[Mjoly]

Use fake eggs. I just use golf balls. Would be nasty to leave a real egg to try and get them to lay in the box and then never get around to removing it and having it rot and explode in the nest box...

Thanks for replying and the tip.
Hope the rest of the girls follow suit !

 

[Mjoly]

I agree with rosemarythyme , try using wooden eggs or golf balls in the best box! They’ll soon get the hang of where they need to lay.

Golf Balls it is! Thanks

 

[Mjoly]

Along with the fake eggs in the nesting box, keep them confined to the coop about 3 days if you can.

Any that are laid on the floor, promptly place in the nesting box for a few hours so they get the hint.

Thanks ..know they won't be happy staying in but I won't have to get under the porch anymore either!

 

[aart]

Thanks ..know they won't be happy staying in but I won't have to get under the porch anymore either!

Hopefully your coop is big enough and well ventilated enough to keep them confined until the coop nest habit is well established.

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.

 

[Mjoly]

Hopefully your coop is big enough and well ventilated enough to keep them confined until the coop nest habit is well established.

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.

Yes my husband is a builder so needless to say they have pretty nice digs and well ventilated, shaded as we are in Florida!
Thanks for your reply

 

[aart]

Yes my husband is a builder so needless to say they have pretty nice digs and well ventilated, shaded as we are in Florida!
Thanks for your reply

Then no reason not to confine them for 'training'
Pics of coop and run, please?
Do you have a build thread?