Give up on chicken laying in nesting boxes?

[HennyPenny44]

My first and only of 5 hens to lay has been laying under the roosts in the coop for three weeks now. I do deep litter and although I fluff it all up every day, she is still laying in a poopy area.

I put golf balls in the nesting boxes with plenty of fresh straw. I blocked the area under the roosts with cardboard held down by pieces of wood but she just wedged herself under the cardboard somehow and another time, just nested on the floor alongside the cardboard. I put her in the nesting boxes but she doesn't seem to like them and quickly hopped out, continuing to make her little nests under the roost.

The coop is 4'×6' with 3 additional 12"×12" nesting boxes. My other chickens aren't laying yet but are at least starting to check out the nesting boxes. Maybe they'll show her? Her eggs are shiny and clean in spite of everything so should I keep trying to change her ways or just accept she found a better nesting spot than the one I provided?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photos of your nest boxes, in case there's some changes to suggest that we can spot?

Something you can try (but takes some good timing) is if you know her laying schedule, and see her heading into the coop to lay, pick her up once she settles in her chosen spot and put her in the nest box, and block her in to keep her from leaving. I just use my arms to form "bars" across the entrance to keep them in the box. Hopefully she'll start exploring the box and decide it's good enough to suit her needs and settle down - for me it's only taken 30 seconds to 1 min for that to happen - and at that time you can slowly remove your arms and see if she'll stay in on her own.

 

[aart]

But ripping rags and thumbtacking them doesn't seem that hard!

Except that loose strings from ripped cloth can be an hazard...not to mention thumb tacks coming lose and being ingested.<shudders> If you choose to make 'curtains' please attach them securely.

Thanks for the suggestions! The nesting boxes have straw and one of my other chickens left an egg shaped surprise in one of them this morning so at least one chicken likes my nesting boxes!

Well, that might set an example!

 

[TomZilla43]

Definitely following this thread, I have similar issues with my hens now. It's slightly different in that my hens USED to always lay in the nesting boxes but now ALWAYS lay in the front corner of the coop. It's not too bad because the location is right by where the big door that I use for coop maintenance opens so it's easy access to the eggs. I've actually considered rebuilding my nest boxes to be larger, primarily deeper to see if that helps(currently they are about 13" square). I also do deep litter and had wondered if the fact that the boxes are slightly elevated(they are probably about 3" or so above the level of the litter) might be a contributing issue. Anyhoo just a few thoughts from someone going through essentially the same thing, I hope you find suitable solutions to your nest box challenges.

 

[HennyPenny44]

I can't see anywhere there to lay an egg really. I'm really good at making boxes and nests chickens like to lay eggs in. I've had plenty of success. I think there was only one set of three I made that sucked.

My expert recommendations. Take one, or take all, take as many as you please.

Thumbtack a handcloth or rag over two of the doorways to the nestboxes. The hanging cloth needs to leave enough room for her to poke her head in, until they get used to the idea that they can walk trough. Many of my nest boxes have this. It often works. One old denim jeans makes a lot of doorways.

Replace the wood shavings in one box with soil. They will always want a nest where eggs will roll to the center, I can't see that in your boxes.

Use a flowerpot larger than your chicken that just squeezes into the nest box. On it's side, so they can walk right in the front ( top ) of the pot, and a small slope towards the back of the nest (bottom of pot) so the eggs roll to the one place at the back. Mine love this. Big success.

Old lawn mower grass catchers are often easy and good nest boxes.

Lean a piece of flatwood up against the nest boxes to cover the entrance so they have to walk round it to get in. Your nestboxes are too public. Think of it like going to the toilet with everyone watching. It would take a lot of effort for the hens to get that far-away look in their eyes while laying an egg. not easy.

Thanks for the suggestions! The nesting boxes have straw and one of my other chickens left an egg shaped surprise in one of them this morning so at least one chicken likes my nesting boxes! But I like your rag idea. I was meaning to give my girls some kind of curtains but it was put off because I hate sewing and installing curtain rods. But ripping rags and thumbtacking them doesn't seem that hard!

 

[Echilde]

I gave up. Most of mine lay in the goats' hay bin! I even put nesting boxes in the goats' house because they apparently love it there. Thankfully, some of them at least use those now too. I do like some of the suggestions I've read. Maybe I'll try again...

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Ive been at it about 7 years. Most new layers "get it" but some like my new BRs its taking a bit for them to get it lol. Rather than the nice fluffy nest box they lay in a corner of the coop, ugh. I don't allow free range time til they learn where to lay.

 

[HennyPenny44]

Well, my under the roost layer did lay 2 or 3 eggs in the nesting box (yay!) after I installed the curtains but today, she layed again under the roost. I think seeing my barred rock lay in the nesting boxes changed her outlook but not completely. The barred rock in the photo seems to like the shiny mermaid curtains!

 

[GodofPecking]

I can't see anywhere there to lay an egg really. I'm really good at making boxes and nests chickens like to lay eggs in. I've had plenty of success. I think there was only one set of three I made that sucked.

My expert recommendations. Take one, or take all, take as many as you please.

Thumbtack a handcloth or rag over two of the doorways to the nestboxes. The hanging cloth needs to leave enough room for her to poke her head in, until they get used to the idea that they can walk trough. Many of my nest boxes have this. It often works. One old denim jeans makes a lot of doorways.

Replace the wood shavings in one box with soil. They will always want a nest where eggs will roll to the center, I can't see that in your boxes.

Use a flowerpot larger than your chicken that just squeezes into the nest box. On it's side, so they can walk right in the front ( top ) of the pot, and a small slope towards the back of the nest (bottom of pot) so the eggs roll to the one place at the back. Mine love this. Big success.

Old lawn mower grass catchers are often easy and good nest boxes.

Lean a piece of flatwood up against the nest boxes to cover the entrance so they have to walk round it to get in. Your nestboxes are too public. Think of it like going to the toilet with everyone watching. It would take a lot of effort for the hens to get that far-away look in their eyes while laying an egg. not easy.

 

[aart]

Might try a different bedding than the floor bedding?