free range hens laying everywhere but the coop

[ldemmert]

I have 13 layers, some of whom have decided it's too much work to run back to the nest box to lay. They all have laid there before:no change in the boxes or the nesting material. I have tried to "reset" them by leaving them locked in until noon or even 2PM for a few days. Doesn't help. They lay inside when they are there but not the next time they are out. If we leave eggs in the nest to remind them what's to be done, they get stepped on and cracked. We could use golf balls, but I think they KNOW, they just choose not to run back. The suspects are over a year old.
Suggestions?

 

[Den in Penn]

You could try leaving them out only after they are done laying for the day. They may start to lay earlier in the day so you could then let them out earlier.