Don’t watch me!

[Chickassan]

Nice set up lady!

Drape some fabric (even a cut up burlap bag will do) across it for additional privacy.
This is my set up.
View attachment 1574005

 

[DobieLover]

Nice set up lady!

Thanks!

 

[aart]

Would this be ok? Least until I can construct something a bit nicer?

That should be fine, jut needs a front lip(4-6" high) with a perch attached to this one.

This one is better, still might need a front lip.

They don't need curtains...and remember every time you change something they may need time to adjust. Newly laying pullets can take a few weeks to get it together, especially when there are no older birds the show them the ropes.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I noticed some of mine don’t like me around watching. They older one don’t mind so much. Some like more privacy than others

 

[JurassicChicken]

They do like to feel private and secure. My two youngest RIRs tend to lay about mid day. If I need to be working in the run at that time I try to avoid working near the coop so I don't make them feel uncomfortable; nevertheless, if I am working in the run and one or both of them are in the coop, they may look outside to see what the noise is, and when they see it is just me, the go back into the coop and return to their nest. I try to never disturb them when they are preparing to lay. Actually, if I am out in the run when the darker RIR lays an egg she will follow me around for several minutes squaking her "egg song".
My other girls, a Welsummer and a Barred Rock will often use the same nest to lay in. Their eggs are very different (the Welsummer's being much darker with very dark spots), but I have actually seen the Barred Rock nudge her egg toward me as if to point out which egg was hers.
Chickens are fascinating in so many ways.

 

[aart]

They don't need 'privacy', that's a human thing, they need to feel safe.
I go into the coop frequently, peek in thru the back nest access - even open it up, even take eggs from underneath them<gasp>....all done cool calm confident, so they get used to me being in there and know I'm not going to hurt them.

 

[Nuggetbeackerastro]

Here is the updated version! I went out last night to collect her egg and she had pushed everything out, including the fake eggs, and then went and laid her egg outside so I took everyone’s advice and did a little bit more of a roost for her to stand on and then added a lip to it so she has to step down in so she won’t push everything out. Let’s hope when she messes around in it today she likes it, and hopefully the other two will start laying soon!

 

[aart]

Here is the updated version!

Great job!!

Remember that pullets are notorious for really messing up the nests,
they usually quit that pretty soon...
...tho it can take up to a month for them to really smooth the process out.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Great job!!

Remember that pullets are notorious for really messing up the nests,
they usually quit that pretty soon...
...tho it can take up to a month for them to really smooth the process out.

I never had a problem with pullets messing up a nest (thankfully) other than reconfiguring the bowl shape I would but in it for them. But would peek in and hang around when curiousity struck. But I had a friend who’s pullet would knock the fake eggs out ( along with most the bedding) for the first few weeks she was laying and laying in the coop floor at first rather than the box she just knocked eggs out of. But she left alone and she started laying in the nest boxes on her own after a couple weeks. She figured seeing the other ones using it “ properly “ helped. I can agree with that, makes sense to me! If you change things up , that’s fine but each time give it some time (i would suggest a minimum of A week or so) Chickens don’t like change much and takes awhile for them to get used to anything. So constant change my discourage them from the area

 

[aart]

I never had a problem with pullets messing up a nest (thankfully) other than reconfiguring the bowl shape I would but in it for them.

OhMan...I've had some just tear things up!!
Had a neurotic hen that would too...but that another story.
This years pullets have been pretty restrained in that respect,
only a few out of 10 and they were fairly subdued.