The general recommendation for the minimum size nest box on this forum is 12" x 12" x12". That's mainly because we have to have a recommendation that covers the tiny Sebrights and includes the Jersey Giants. A 12" cube works for all of them.
I've seen full-sized dual-purpose hens hide nests in spaces much smaller than a 12" cube. When a hen lays an egg that egg come out of the same vent that poop comes out of but the plumbing inside is two different systems. To keep the poop from getting on an egg the plumbing on the egg-laying side extends a small amount to protect that egg when she is laying it. Think in the 1/2 inch range but probably less. To keep trash from the nest from getting on that extended bit and being taken inside her internals the hen raises up enough. When people envision a hen standing up to lay an egg they think of her standing on tippy toes reaching for the sun. They don't need nearly that much room.
I don't know how high your nests are. My nests are 16" cubes, you say yours are 15" x 15". By proportion yours look plenty high to me.
It sounds like you have pullets just starting to lay. Today is officially the shortest day of the year. I've had pullets start to lay this time of the year. I've had hens that finished the molt start laying this time of the year. I've also had pullets and hens wait until the longer days of the spring to start up. It is not a huge shock to me that yours have started.
About a week before they start to lay some pullets look for a good place to lay. That does not mean they always choose your nests. They choose what looks good to them, not us. Sometimes that is dark hidden spots, sometimes it is a place out in the open with plenty of room and light. They each have their own personalities and instincts, they don't always choose the same.
But not all pullets know they are about to lay. It seems to come as a surprise to them. Or they may not have enough control to get to the nest. They may drop an egg from the roost at night or when they are walking around, as if they are totally surprised it is coming. Most gain control pretty soon and start laying in a nest. This does not necessarily mean your nests.
If you find eggs scattered around, then they are almost certainly still dropping them at random. They have not yet decided on a nest location or have not yet gained control to lay them where they want to.
If you have older hens laying the new pullets often learn from them where to lay. Not always, but often. That's why we recommend a fake egg in the nests you want them to use. That improves your odds but does not come with a guarantee. This is also why you need to keep the eggs dropped at random cleaned up. Don't give them a reason to believe that spot is actually a nest.
If you consistently find eggs in the same spot, that means she has determined that is her nest. You may decide that spot can work and leave her alone. Maybe even build a nest there and see if she will use it.
Some people say they have had success removing the eggs and putting something there so she can't lay there so she has to find a new nest. I haven't has much success with that but that does not mean it can't work. It does for some people and is probably your easiest way to try.
Some people have had success placing a nest there and getting her used to using it, then move it a foot or so closer to where they want her to lay every three or four days. Once they get her used to laying in the area of the real nests they remove that temporary nest and see if she switches to a real nest. Or leave that nest and make it a permanent nest.
I built some of my nests so I can lock a hen in there. It's come in handy for different things. When I find a hen laying where I do not want her to I wait until I can catch her on that nest laying an egg and move her to a real nest where I lock her in until she lays that egg. That often involves chasing her with a fishing net. So what if it scares her, I don't want her to think that is a safe place to lay. That's usually about a half hour but I had one take 3 hours. Usually that is enough to get them to lay in the real nest after that. I had to repeat the 3-hour hen the next day but she had other behavioral problems.
I do not consider your situation to be at all unusual. Often it will clear itself up in a few days. I don't know if your nests are part of the problem. I don't think so but I'm not there looking at them. Congratulations on your new eggs, enjoy them. Good luck!
I've seen full-sized dual-purpose hens hide nests in spaces much smaller than a 12" cube. When a hen lays an egg that egg come out of the same vent that poop comes out of but the plumbing inside is two different systems. To keep the poop from getting on an egg the plumbing on the egg-laying side extends a small amount to protect that egg when she is laying it. Think in the 1/2 inch range but probably less. To keep trash from the nest from getting on that extended bit and being taken inside her internals the hen raises up enough. When people envision a hen standing up to lay an egg they think of her standing on tippy toes reaching for the sun. They don't need nearly that much room.
I don't know how high your nests are. My nests are 16" cubes, you say yours are 15" x 15". By proportion yours look plenty high to me.
It sounds like you have pullets just starting to lay. Today is officially the shortest day of the year. I've had pullets start to lay this time of the year. I've had hens that finished the molt start laying this time of the year. I've also had pullets and hens wait until the longer days of the spring to start up. It is not a huge shock to me that yours have started.
About a week before they start to lay some pullets look for a good place to lay. That does not mean they always choose your nests. They choose what looks good to them, not us. Sometimes that is dark hidden spots, sometimes it is a place out in the open with plenty of room and light. They each have their own personalities and instincts, they don't always choose the same.
But not all pullets know they are about to lay. It seems to come as a surprise to them. Or they may not have enough control to get to the nest. They may drop an egg from the roost at night or when they are walking around, as if they are totally surprised it is coming. Most gain control pretty soon and start laying in a nest. This does not necessarily mean your nests.
If you find eggs scattered around, then they are almost certainly still dropping them at random. They have not yet decided on a nest location or have not yet gained control to lay them where they want to.
If you have older hens laying the new pullets often learn from them where to lay. Not always, but often. That's why we recommend a fake egg in the nests you want them to use. That improves your odds but does not come with a guarantee. This is also why you need to keep the eggs dropped at random cleaned up. Don't give them a reason to believe that spot is actually a nest.
If you consistently find eggs in the same spot, that means she has determined that is her nest. You may decide that spot can work and leave her alone. Maybe even build a nest there and see if she will use it.
Some people say they have had success removing the eggs and putting something there so she can't lay there so she has to find a new nest. I haven't has much success with that but that does not mean it can't work. It does for some people and is probably your easiest way to try.
Some people have had success placing a nest there and getting her used to using it, then move it a foot or so closer to where they want her to lay every three or four days. Once they get her used to laying in the area of the real nests they remove that temporary nest and see if she switches to a real nest. Or leave that nest and make it a permanent nest.
I built some of my nests so I can lock a hen in there. It's come in handy for different things. When I find a hen laying where I do not want her to I wait until I can catch her on that nest laying an egg and move her to a real nest where I lock her in until she lays that egg. That often involves chasing her with a fishing net. So what if it scares her, I don't want her to think that is a safe place to lay. That's usually about a half hour but I had one take 3 hours. Usually that is enough to get them to lay in the real nest after that. I had to repeat the 3-hour hen the next day but she had other behavioral problems.
I do not consider your situation to be at all unusual. Often it will clear itself up in a few days. I don't know if your nests are part of the problem. I don't think so but I'm not there looking at them. Congratulations on your new eggs, enjoy them. Good luck!
