Free Range Hens Not Laying In Coop

[CedarRanch]

I have a flock of chickens with about 10 hens laying eggs currently. Out of those there were 3 older hens who always laid eggs in the nesting box. Now as more and more hens are laying, they all fight over the one corner of the box. I guess some of them got tired of it and decided to find new places to lay eggs. I found a nest in my cat tote. The next day I found have only 1 hen laid in the coop while the rest laid in the cat tote. So the day after I locked them in their coop until noon when they usually are all done laying. None of them laid but one hen. As soon as I let them out they all ran to the cat box. So today I moved the cat box to the coop. Where I usually get 5-8 eggs, I’ve gotten only 3 today. My flock is free range and they regularly hang out in about 2-3 acres of land. They have a fenced in area around the coop but when I try to lock them in they just fly over the 4 foot fence. I feel like I’m starting to be on a really frustrating egg hunt. A few hens have gone into the coop, looked around and walked back out. They’re going to the deck where the cat bin was and looking around for it. I don’t want them to start laying in the woods. I’ve even put fake eggs in the nesting box. What else can I do? Do I need to lock them up longer? It’s supposed to be 90 degrees all weekend.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since it sounds like the run can't contain them for an extended period of time, how large is the coop and is it too hot inside the coop to safely lock them in there for a longer period of time? Like if it's an open air coop it probably wouldn't make much difference temperature wise, but I can't tell from the photo.

Gotta admit I'd might just give in and let them have the "cat tote" (whatever that is) to lay in if they like it so much.

 

[Chick Isa]

Hi, I am struggling with the same problem as only one hen was laying in the coop nesting boxes until we got some more hens so now no eggs in the coop. all the others are laying in secret spots in my garden as they also free range. And I tried locking them up once but they managed to escape. So does anyone have some easy tricks to get your hens to lay in the nesting boxes?

 

[aart]

And I tried locking them up once but they managed to escape.

Fix the escape place and try again.

 

[Mrs. K]

Sometimes it is better to KNOW where the eggs are, than to try and get them to lay somewhere else. And then have them hide them where you don't know where they are. But I hear you, mine are in lock down due to current predators. But they are laying on the floor.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, one day they will go back to laying where they are suppose too.

It can be so frustrating

 

[CedarRanch]

Hi, I am struggling with the same problem as only one hen was laying in the coop nesting boxes until we got some more hens so now no eggs in the coop. all the others are laying in secret spots in my garden as they also free range. And I tried locking them up once but they managed to escape. So does anyone have some easy tricks to get your hens to lay in the nesting boxes?

So I actually fixed the problem without having to lock them up at all. I tried locking them up but they just stopped laying until I let them back out and they ran to the porch to lay again. What worked for me was to keep my main coop door shut 24/7. I only opened the side door, that you can see a little in the photo where the light is coming in. It’s a really small low door they can come in and out of. Doing this led to the coop being way darker, and they can’t really see us walking around outside. So they feel a lot more hidden and safe. I also put fake eggs in the nesting box. I set two groups of 3 eggs in there so it looked like someone was laying in there. And lastly, I no longer check for eggs throughout the day. I feel like I was pretty excited about having chickens and seeing who laid what eggs and I was in there like every hour. Now I only gather them around dinner time so everyone’s already done. With all of these changes only one hen continues to lay outside of the coop. The rest have all begun to use the coop & only the coop.