Do hens need privacy while laying?

[BroomFarm]

We have a coop with a door that opens up to allow easy access to the nest boxes. ( https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=30118 )

We leave the door open during hot days, with a screen closing it off so the girls don't try to escape. We close it up at night, but open it first thing in the morning, when we feed them.

My question is this: Will the hens be less likely to lay in the nest boxes because the back side of them is open?

 

[The Zoo]

Probably depends on the chickens - mine don't care who watches them lay.

 

[FrenchHen]

Several of mine lay with me watching. It doesn't look like fun, but they have short memories I guess.

 

[gritsar]

I think they do prefer the privacy. The reason I say this is because my hens all laid in their open nestboxes just fine, until I added an enclosed one in an out of the way location in the coop. Now they all line up to use the private one.

 

[cthrash1]

The only one I have laying so far is just like her momma and will fuss at you to leave and when she can't see you she'll go lay.

 

[foweler]

My Red wouldn't lay in the nest until I made it darker and privater (sic).

 

[chickenlittle32]

Most of my hens don't mind it....the kids will watch as it comes out "her butt" LOL and some of them yell and scatter as soon as we walk into the coop. Depends on the hen, I think.

 

[EAST TEXAROO]

Mine give me dirty looks and sqawks at me like they are calling me a pervert

 

[chickenbottom]

some of mine do and some dont ive sat in the coop for hours watching some lay and one yell at me to get out so they could lol

 

[threehorses]

You'll always get better production if you give them a quiet, dark, safe spot with little activity - so yes.

To do their best they do.

(p.s. That being said, I still like to see if I can catch them in action! Sometimes curiosity > productivity.)