Does she Vant to Be Alone?

[2DogsFarm]

One of my 18wk old Black Star pullets has started doing the egg squat (yay!) & now I've noticed that when I let the group out to freerange she seems very interested in a sheltered spot between two bushes in the yard.
I can't get the mower in there, so the grass is longer than the rest of the yard.

Last night when everyone else was in the coop chowing on their evening treat of grapes, she was out in the yard hanging around that spot.
Do you think she may be considering it for a nest?

I have two nestboxes setup & ready in the coop - I even "salted" them with 2 fake wooden eggs each & they have nice fresh pine shavings inside. But somtheing tells me Ms. Markena may have other ideas.

IF she does lay there (at least I'll know where to check for that 1st egg) - how do I convince her the nestboxes are really a better idea.

They are let out of the coop for about 1/2 hour early in the mornings when I feed my horses - about 6A.
Then again in the early evening - about 5:30P for the same amount of time.
The rest of the day I'm at work, and since my henyard isn't fenced yet, they are in the coop.

From what I've read here, hens lay in the early morning, right?

 

[rachiegirl]

They can lay at anytime of the day, though I think most lay in the morning. My oldest girl started laying last week. The first 2 eggs she laid at around 4 in the afternoon, skipped a day, and now lays in the morning. I would say for all the time they are in the coop, chances are extremely good that is where she will lay. Unless she holds it!