First egg

[troy2469]

I am pleased to announce that one of our Red Sex Link has laid her first egg (small, but well formed and not apparent issues with the shell that I have read about). I just opened the nesting boxes a few days ago since they pooped in them the first night and places golf balls in on the hay. I found the egg in the chicken run. How do I get them to start laying in the nesting box?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I would clean out the nesting boxes (if you have not already) put in some nice fresh material, your fake egg and lock in the girls for the next week or two of mornings. Normally it just takes a few days for them to get the hint. Hopefully the new material will make them curious to check it out and happy to lay there.

 

[Leahs Coop]

Hello, and a warm welcome to Backyard Chickens! It's great to have you here with us! Congrats on your first egg! That's the most exciting part about chickening!
(In my opinion)

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

How Egg-citing!
Welcome to our FUNomenal Flock!

 

[troy2469]

I would clean out the nesting boxes (if you have not already) put in some nice fresh material, your fake egg and lock in the girls for the next week or two of mornings. Normally it just takes a few days for them to get the hint. Hopefully the new material will make them curious to check it out and happy to lay there.

The nesting boxes are brand new and clean. This is her first egg ever. Nesting boxes were opened up only last weekend due to the chickens sleeping in them the first couple of nights. Now they sleep on the roosts. Maybe it just takes a little time to get use to the nesting box

 

[TropicalBabies]

The nesting boxes are brand new and clean. This is her first egg ever. Nesting boxes were opened up only last weekend due to the chickens sleeping in them the first couple of nights. Now they sleep on the roosts. Maybe it just takes a little time to get use to the nesting box

That's good. My girls love fresh hey... matter of fact i have a hard time getting them out of the nesting boxes sometimes after freshening up. Your new layer may just be a little unsure or confused as where to lay at first. So locking them in for the mornings usually gets them right as rain. Many people lock them in when they are close to POL, helps with any confusion. Do you free range? Do you have a rooster? If no roo, the girls will be looking to you for direction. It is ok to keep them in coop for a little bit. It works out great for the long run. No fun looking for eggs unless you are 5 and its Easter.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Yes, it does sometimes take time to lay in the nest boxes. New layers get surprised by the egg and you will find them in strange places until they get the hang of things. Congratulations on your first egg!

 

[TropicalBabies]

PS. Welcome to BYC!!!! So glad you joined and again congratulations on your flock of new layers or soon to be. She may get it on her own or get it real fast. Sure the egg surprised her too. But in the future if you find her eggs out of the nest you know what to do. Also the others are more apt to follow her lead. I'd make sure she gets it.

 

[troy2469]

That's good. My girls love fresh hey... matter of fact i have a hard time getting them out of the nesting boxes sometimes after freshening up. Your new layer may just be a little unsure or confused as where to lay at first. So locking them in for the mornings usually gets them right as rain. Many people lock them in when they are close to POL, helps with any confusion. Do you free range? Do you have a rooster? If no roo, the girls will be looking to you for direction. It is ok to keep them in coop for a little bit. It works out great for the long run. No fun looking for eggs unless you are 5 and its Easter.

No rooster. They are in a store bought pen and coop. For the last week, we have left the door open to the coop at night as my wife and I work and are gone before sun up. Do you think closing the coop at night once they have gone to bed in the evening (on weekends) will be enough to teach her to lay in the nesting box?

 

[Melky]

They may lay a few in the run but usually start laying in the boxes on own. Can block the spot they choose and put eggs in nest box and they should start laying in the nest box. Practice makes perfect.