first of the flock has started to lay , except not in the nesting box !

[0fchicken89]

she dug out a little hike for herself in a dark corner of the coop and laid there yesterday, today in a different corner, everywhere except the nesting box. how do i encourage them to lay in the nesting box ? will this behavior change over time ? there are 2 spacious nesting boxes in a corner in the coop , with nesting pads . coop is 5x6 with 9 hens

 

[BoundlessLove]

Congratulations on your first eggs!
Do you have any fake eggs in the nesting boxes? If not, any golf balls?
This may encourage them.

 

[C Siena]

We have golf balls in most of the nest boxes even though the hens range from 1yr - 2yrs old. They use the boxes with the golf balls/fake eggs first.

A couple of ours began laying elsewhere: on the poop board, on the floor (falling from the roost), in a corner, building their own nest etc. Eventually all began to go to the boxes.

 

[0fchicken89]

Congratulations on your first eggs!
Do you have any fake eggs in the nesting boxes? If not, any golf balls?
This may encourage them.

i do have fake eggs

 

[TOMTE]

Where is she in the pecking order? If she's lower down, she might just feel uncomfortable competing with higher ups for the nexting boxes.

A chicken will lay where she feels most comfortable laying. May just be a quirk of hers. Or she could be preparing to go broody, so she decided to make herself a new nest to set in without the other hens trampling on her/her eggs.

 

[BoundlessLove]

When they first start laying, it’s a little guessing game sometimes.
They eventually figure it out.

 

[TOMTE]

When they first start laying, it’s a little guessing game sometimes.
They eventually figure it out.

Also true

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

2 boxes for 9 layers might be a bit cramped once they all start laying

Some birds are fiddly with their nest box desires

 

[C Siena]

Curious as to, do they free range? If not, how large is the run?

5x6 could be a little cramped for 9 pullets/chickens, unless they free range all day or have an adequate run.

Is it possible to add onto the coop, 4 nest boxes on the outside to not take more space inside? Depending on your setup, you then might remove the boxes inside. You can post pictures of your coop inside/outside and run and others can give you better advice.

Also, we are you located as that can determine which answers are best. You can add location to your profile by clicking on your name, the drop down, click on Account details and there add your location.

 

[Ridgerunner]

she dug out a little hike for herself in a dark corner of the coop and laid there yesterday, today in a different corner, everywhere except the nesting box. how do i encourage them to lay in the nesting box ? will this behavior change over time ? there are 2 spacious nesting boxes in a corner in the coop , with nesting pads . coop is 5x6 with 9 hens

Some pullets seem to know that an egg is coming as much as a week before they lay that first egg. They seek out a good place to lay and start laying there. That might or might not be in your nests but at least they lay in the same spot each time.

Some pullets don't know it is coming. They may drop an egg wherever they are, from the roost or just walking around. Sounds like that may be what is going in with yours if it is the same pullet laying both eggs. When you start finding them in the same spot she has chosen that spot for her nest. Some start out with that control, some may be laying for a week or more before they gain that control.

So what can you do? Be patient, give her time to gain that control. You have fake eggs in the nests, good. Try to keep the random eggs cleaned up, they can show here where to lay if you leave them, like the fake eggs show her a good place to lay.

If you catch her laying an egg where you do not want her to, try catching her and locking her into a real nest until she lays the egg. That's what I do after they have established a nest where I do not want them laying.

Since she is the first to start laying a lack of nests is obviously not an issue. A general rule of thumb on this forum is one nest for every 4 or 5 hens with the nests a minimum of 12" x 12". You are on the border with that number of nests. A larger nest can handle more hens. If you want you can add another nest but that will not affect this first pullet to start laying. Where it might be beneficial is if you plan on letting a broody hen hatch eggs or if you get a nest hog that will not allow the others to lay in her nest. Nest hogs are kind of rare but they can happen.

If she does establish a nest other than in your nests consider constructing a nest where whe wants to lay if that location is OK with you.

Good luck and congratulations on those first eggs.