Do most/all layers, who are allowed to free range, eventually relapse to egg-hiding?

[TooCheep]

I average 20 potential layers. I currently have 10 nesting boxes. To me it's not a matter of ratios. There are nesting boxes on the floor now where hens have laid on the floor. If they want to lay on the floor I'll give them a nest to lay in on that spot. Sometimes they use them, sometimes they do not. There are times I feel like ripping out all nests but the current favorite, lol. Then a few days later they all choose a different favorite nest! Who knows the mind of a chicken?

The favorite box is definitely frustrating. I've ended up with 5 eggs in one box and 1 each in two others and one box empty occasionally. Mostly, I've seen lower-ranked hens get bullied and pecked out of a box and that motivated me to make more available. It has definitely helped reduce noise and stress (drama).

The higher and lower boxes is likely a good idea. I can see younger/lower ranked hens being more likely to jump to the upper boxes, but haven't tested the theory.

 

[CabritaChicks]

I only have two laying girls right now—a leghorn mix and a junglefowl. Back when I had more hens, I noticed three distinct “egg-laying personalities”:

1. The ones who dutifully use the nest boxes.
2. The rebels who sneak off to the hurricane shelter initially (arg).
3. And the wildcards who seem to just drop an egg mid-stride without a care in the world... 'oops, did I do that?'

My girls free-range from dawn till dusk, and I’ve set up three nest boxes in preparation for all six future layers (some of them are tiity bitty at the moment and dont lay). For now, though, the two hens insist on sharing just one box, ceramic eggs and all. They’ll roam the property all day, then sprint back to that same box when it’s time for their daily “deposit.”

Fun fact: junglefowl are the masters of stealth—silent, efficient, and before you know it, poof, an egg appears. Roo, my white leghorn mix, on the other hand, announces her achievement to the entire island, my god her egg song is loud. Their coop is 150 feet from the sea, yet I always know when she’s laying an egg. Talk about a “come hither” call for any nearby predators!

But when I had 5 free range gals- they all started laying in the nest boxes once I cut off access to the hurricane shelter for 'fun' and they never lay in the bushes.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

1. The ones who dutifully use the nest boxes.
2. The rebels who sneak off to the hurricane shelter initially (arg).
3. And the wildcards who seem to just drop an egg mid-stride without a care in the world... 'oops, did I do that?'

Honestly BYC has the best writers!

 

[SamLockwood]

I got some very helpful suggestions last week for curbing nest hiding, and have been able to make necessary arrangements to keep my layers confined and close to nesting boxes at all times. We're almost a week into training and all (who are currently at point of lay) are laying consistently in the boxes.

My question is: if I let them return to foraging all over the yard (after nesting box habits are well established) will they eventually go back to egg hiding in various places? If so, how soon does that behaviour typically pop up again?

In my experience, generally no. If I introduce new pullets they'll sometimes pick weird places to lay but they eventually figure out to use the nesting boxes.