Goofy hen won't lay in the nesting box....

[HenHouse13]

My Easter Egger has always been VERY goofy acting..not very quick to catch on to things All four hens have been laying for over 4 weeks now, and she is the only one who WILL NOT LAY IN THE NESTING BOX! She also ate her first egg she ever laid! Now, she will lay them on the bottom of the coop and most always they have cracks in them. I feel bad for her, because she looks SO awkward when laying..she "scratches" at the floor of the coop and squats up and down in the corner until she lays (which cracks the egg almost every time)...any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Judy]

I've had some who had their own spots to lay. I just put extra hay there for a good soft spot for the egg to drop. What you describe sounds like the way several of my hens act when they lay -- in those cases when I happened to be there for it. I've seen several of them lay while raised up a few inches from the floor; I've even caught a couple when they were laid.

 

[bleu chick]

I have an Easter Egger that is crazy too. She wont lay in the nest boxes. She flys on top of these outdoor cages and lays her egg on the roof. The roof is corrugated metal and it has to be hot (it in the direct sun). Sometimes it rolls off and breaks.

She just started laying 2 weeks ago. I have never had a hen that wouldnt use the nest boxes. There are 10 boxes and I have 18 hens. There is always a open box. Since she just started laying I dont want to encourage her to continue laying there. I would like her to move to the nest boxes.

This pullet will not roost with the other hens either. She hides out on top of the nest boxes. She has 3 other pullets she was raised with and that she stays with during the day. The others all go up to roost. I put her on the roost bars almost every night. She doesnt like to be handled but she never goes to the bar on her own. And she hasnt learned that if she goes up there I wont have to pick her up each night.


Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[blriehl]

I'm having the same problem with my Silkie hen! I'd love to hear suggestions!