First time hen owner. (Nesting advice)

[RookieEgger]

Hey everyone, so my girlfriend and I got 10 chicks back in may and they are just now starting to lay. The first couple seemed to figure out the nest box right off a week ago but now I’m starting to find eggs on the coop floor. I also noticed this morning when I let them out there were two eggs that had laid over night in the roost. Is this normal for young pullets trying to figure out the process? I went with the 5 gallon bucket nest box idea with a fake egg in each box. These chickens are on the bigger side (rainbow breed) so I’m hoping the boxes aren’t too small. I’ve got a couple chickens in the act of using them last week but now it seems as though they’ve taken a step back and I find eggs on the floor. Thanks everyone.

 

[R1V3R20NG]

Rainbow Breed???????

 

[R1V3R20NG]

Maybe you dont have enough boxes so they get impatient with eachother. I still occasionally find an egg in the run.

 

[RookieEgger]

Rainbow Breed???????

Easter eggee/Americana

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

You may try some different types of boxes. I tried the 5 gal. buckets and my girls (also larger breeds) wouldn't use them. I replaced them with 1 oval plastic ice bucket, like you would use to put drinks for a party. I have 3 girls who use it. I may have to add another one when the others are old enough to start laying.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Easter eggee/Americana

An Easter Egger and an Americana are two separate though related breeds. An Easter Egger can lay almost any shade of egg but the Americana's eggs are all blue.

 

[RookieEgger]

An Easter Egger and an Americana are two separate though related breeds. An Easter Egger can lay almost any shade of egg but the Americana's eggs are all blue.

From what I understand this “rainbow breed is relatively new” and not much info and I was wrong earlier. Seems to be a cross between, Ameracauna and Easter egger. They are a bigger hardy looking chicken and come in Three different colors. Some have a partridge look to them, some have a blonde look, and some have a Rhode Island Red look. Apparently a dual purpose bird (laying/meat).

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Is this normal for young pullets trying to figure out the process?

It can be normal, can take about a month for them to get in the groove.
Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs.



Regardless of the 'breed', I'm guessing your nests may be too small to be comfortable.
Tho many have success with bucket nests, I found them to be rejected for larger nests that are easier to turn around in.
Are they easy to get into?
Pics of inside of coop showing nests might help here.