egg laying question on nest box behavior

[pinkwindsong]

what is it in the chickens behavior that will have them go to a next box to lay?.
if they are free ranged will they still come to a nest box..?
how do I promote the drive to nest box and not just under some tree.?
I have 4 that free range and roost next to the coop,litteraly next to the roosting coop and then I have 5 that sleep in the coop every night after free range to the yard all day. I have a box set up in the coop. should I put one outside too. or should I keep them all locked up till they start laying.. they were hatched in march and none have started laying as of yet. i do have a concern of having them all locked up all day becasue of the heat .. they have a 4x 12 dog kennel run...

I sure would appreciate the help I dont want my girls to get in the habit of laying outside where I wont find the eggs. //


thanks Pink

 

[galanie]

Put fake eggs or golf balls in the nest box. So long as they come in to the coop every night they'll see that and get the idea. If you lock them in the coop a couple days the ones that roost outside should start spending nights inside.

 

[pinkwindsong]

sounds good I have the little flock locked up now getting ready to go out and let the teenagers in for the night.. its the teen s that roost inside the safety run every night..
)O(
Pink

 

[wava1vaughn]

Hi from Ga. I put ceramic eggs in the nest box to show them where to lay. It usually works but now and then they will lay somewhere else. We keep them locked up for a couple of weeks in the new coop and then we don't have a problem with them coming home at night.

 

[kidcody]

My chickens free range on ten acres during the day and then I lock them up at night. I put fake eggs in the nest box. I've seen the girls (hens) at a dead run across the field to get to there barn to lay a egg. Its pretty cute. I have some that lay there egg in the very early hours and some lay in the afternoon hours. So far I have never found any eggs other then there nest boxes. There so smart!

 

[pinkwindsong]

I agree they are smart.. so should I keep them up during the day for a couple days with the fake egg? they all know where the coop is I still keep feed and water in the run and both little flocks us it.. I think the younger girls don't want to be picked on, so they took to the tree right next to the run.

will they give me any indication before they start laying? they have the size my leg horn girl has a bright cherry red comb and little wattles, the bramhas are all red and so are the br girls. should I be watching for odd behavior or different sounds.. right now they all just kind of growly thing....one of then will Cluck every once in a while. but other than that no other voices or songs?

thanks for helping me out

)O(
pink

 

[gaillardia]

Mine have all started to squat for me, about a week before they start laying. You will know the squat when you see it. Reach your hand out to them and it will happen when they are in laying mode. My girls free-range and they always come back to their box. I had two girls lay their first egg in the yard, but I think it was kind of like a potty training child; it just surprised them and once they figured out the sensation, they alway lay in the box. If they hatched in March, it should happen soon!

 

[pinkwindsong]

Quote:
too funny I just got that visual of them squatting down when I walk up to them .

. they are silly girls to start with but I have made sure that I talk to each of them and say their name to them while petting every-night.. the only one who is still standoffish is the wht leghorn/ she is still flighty.. even in the dark when I pet everyone around her and they are calm, i think if the other girls wernt on each side of her she'd shed her feathers in fright.. my EE girls are the ones who have figured out how high they need to be up in the tree so I cant reach them and pull them off and put them in the run at night.. Sookie is mine since 3 days old and is very friendly . golden ( I know not original cause yes, she is gold) she, I got when she was a bit older and was already kind of set in her ways. its taken me much longer to get her friendly and still it usualy takes a corner to catch her.. but then she calms right down..

Im getting so excited for eggs.. I think im going to blow the first one and put it in one of those shadow boxes to celebrate,,

everyone's stories and advise is so appreciated and I love to hear others talk about their chickens..
Pink