Free range laying question

[chickenkc]

I have eight five month old hens-mixed
Flock. I let them out to free range around 7 am and they go in on their own around 7:30 pm- and then I lockthe coop. should I be concerned that when they start laying they will lay in the woods and not my coop?

 

[newwestchick]

Mostly hens will lay in the morning, so to be safe I would let them out only in the afternoon or evening if you are concerned - which it sounds like you're doing. Once they start laying they'll tend to want to lay in the same place day after day so will probably go back to the coop even if they're let out in the AM
Cheers!

 

[IndiesChix]

I'm dealing with this issue right now. I have two EES that have just laid their first eggs yesterday. One laid hers on the front porch. I knew she was going to do so ,cause she has been hanging out there by herself for a couple of days. The other one, I noticed was hanging out in another out building, so I coached her back to the coop, and while she was in there I added more bedding to the nesting boxes. Then she suddenly took noticed and started checking them out, and later that day she was in one and laid her egg. So now I'm keeping an eye on anyone that is squatting and who seems to be hanging out by their selves in an area that is not the nesting boxes, so that I can guide them back into coop to lay. So yes they may lay in the woods or other places. Try watching their behavior, and try getting them interested in the nesting boxes. It has only worked once for me so far.

 

[Mutt Farm]

If you let them out at 7 AM, before they learn, yeah, they might lay in the woods if they find a more secluded spot. If you have attractive nesting spots in the coop, possibly you cold let them out later in the day, once they learn to go to the nesting box, they should use it reliably. My neighbor has 1 chicken ( he has a bunch) that hopped over my fence to lay an egg under my wood pile. She needed privacy, felt safe.

 

[Mutt Farm]

If you can put fake eggs or a golf ball in your nesting box, that can help give them the hint...

 

[IndiesChix]

My EE this morning was by herself and looking for a place to lay. She was the one that laid on front porch. I coached her into the coop, they don't like me to pick them up, it took some convincing but she finally started checking out the boxes and is now laying in there, waiting for her second egg.

 

[sjturner79]

Yeah chooks will often pick thier own spots to lay, if they are laying where you can't find you can leave them in the coop for 48 hours and then they have had no choice but to lay in there and will continue to do so for at least a few months.

 

[mucduc]

Just had the same problem. I've had mine on lock down for 5 days. Letting them out later in the day. They learned to use the roll out box all by themselves. There's no older hens to show them the way. I say lock them up