Eggs

[BobletFarmBirds]

Ok so my grains asked me to post a question on here. Her hens have ceramic eggs in laying boxes but the hens lay on the ground. My hens all (except my speckled Sussex) grew out of it. Anything else she can do? Sometimes the hens are laying in the roosts too, so they end up with broken eggs.

 

[sumi]

Fake eggs in the nest boxes are usually quite effective, so I'm thinking the next boxes themselves may be unattractive for the hens. I found with my flocks that they like sheltered and private places to lay, where they feel they can "hide" when laying. Tell her to make the boxes a bit darker and see if that helps?

 

[aart]

Also make sure nests are easy to get in/up to and out/down from.
More info needed:
New layers?
Older birds bullying pullets from nests?
Not enough nests to go around?

I've had a couple pullets that did not like the fake eggs at first.
When I have new layers in the coop I always leave one nest empty of fakes.
Always a stubborn(or stupidish) pullet that lays elsewhere than nests.

Finally caught one the other day after a half dozen eggs on floor, I watched her lay on floor then grabbed her in her post laying stupor and put her in a nest. She did not like it. Next day saw her settling into same place on floor, shooed her out of there and put a bucket in that spot. She finally got into regular nest and laid, we will see if it 'takes' long term.

 

[chickens really]

You could tell her to put up nest box curtains....I have them and they help....


Cheers!

 

[BobletFarmBirds]

Alright I'll let her know. Thanks for your help!!

 

[sumi]

I hope it helps some! Reading another thread earlier, I realised again that sometimes, in spite of our best efforts… > Funniest place you found a nest

 

[BobletFarmBirds]

Yeah lol
Thanks for the help. She will probably put up some curtains in the boxes to make them darker and leave one box without ceramiic eggs. And it's coming onto winter here so that might be why the other one isn't laying. They could be being bullied by the other hens but they've mostly gotten along. Thanks for the help!!