Eggs in Run

[Afrodigh]

I have four 19-wk old Barred rock hens. They just recently started laying and I have gotten a total of 5 eggs in the last 2 weeks. All eggs have been laid in the run. There are two nesting boxes in the coops that they have gone in and out of, but they’re not laying in them.

Im not home during the day so am not around when they are laying.

Any tips on getting them to use the nesting boxes?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Are the eggs in the same spot, probably a slight depression about hen sized, or are they randomly scattered around? If they are all in the same spot the pullet (probably one) is laying out there on purpose. If they are randomly scattered it's a bit different. Many pullets have control of the egg-laying process from the beginning. They look for a safe place to make a nest (as their bird brain determines safe) and lay there from the start. Others don't have control and drop the egg wherever they happen to be. If it has been two weeks it's probably on purpose but maybe not yet.

On the nest boxes I suggest you put a fake egg in them. Chickens often like to lay where another chicken is laying, thinking it safe. I leave a golf ball in my nests all the time. Do this in any case. If it is still random she might switch when she gains control.

If it is on purpose, are you going to be home this weekend? I suggest you modify one of your nests so you can lock a hen in here. Try to catch her on the nest in the run when she is laying her egg and lock her in the nest until she lays the egg. I've done this a few times and it works really well to retrain them. Usually once is all it takes but I've had a few that took twice. The challenge is catching her as she is laying.

Good luck!

 

[Afrodigh]

Are the eggs in the same spot, probably a slight depression about hen sized, or are they randomly scattered around? If they are all in the same spot the pullet (probably one) is laying out there on purpose. If they are randomly scattered it's a bit different. Many pullets have control of the egg-laying process from the beginning. They look for a safe place to make a nest (as their bird brain determines safe) and lay there from the start. Others don't have control and drop the egg wherever they happen to be. If it has been two weeks it's probably on purpose but maybe not yet.

On the nest boxes I suggest you put a fake egg in them. Chickens often like to lay where another chicken is laying, thinking it safe. I leave a golf ball in my nests all the time. Do this in any case. If it is still random she might switch when she gains control.

If it is on purpose, are you going to be home this weekend? I suggest you modify one of your nests so you can lock a hen in here. Try to catch her on the nest in the run when she is laying her egg and lock her in the nest until she lays the egg. I've done this a few times and it works really well to retrain them. Usually once is all it takes but I've had a few that took twice. The challenge is catching her as she is laying.

Good luck!

Yeah, maybe I’ll try camping out by the coop this weekend. 2 of the 5 have been in the same spot, the other three have been scattered across the run. I’ve had golf balls sitting in the coop for a while but they haven’t taken the hint!