Help! Egg Laying Questions...

[erikajoe]

OK, I have 4 easter egger hens, 2 who started to lay this week, the other 2 have not started. Normally they free range during the day and come back to roost in the coop at night. However, they are refusing to lay in the coop regularly. Each one has laid one egg in the coop. I found the other 2 eggs from the first chicken in the yard, and in the back of our shed. SHe has been laying every other day. The other chicken laid what I THOUGHT was her first egg in a nest box, however I noticed she was disappearing for 45 minutes or so 2 days in a row as soon as I let them out of the coop. Found her nest yesterday behind some junk next to our shed. There were 3 eggs in it and I am pretty sure she has been laying everyday. So today I decided to keep them shut in the coop and their small run to try to get them to lay their eggs in nest boxes. I have golf balls in there and I even put one of the eggs from her nest in a box so she would get the idea. Neither laid an egg today. So here comes my stupid questions... Can they actually withhold laying if they can't lay where they want to? And should I keep them shut in for a few more days and see what happens? They are used to free ranging and I feel bad for them but I don't want to be looking everywhere for eggs all the time either. This is harder than potty training, I am so stressed about this, lol! Thank you for your help!

 

[fordmommy]

I would keep then in for a couple days. They'll be fine. And they should figure at that time where to lay their eggs,

I don't think they can "with-hold" their eggs. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[erikajoe]

Thank you so much for your reply! I lay awake at night worrying! I know it is INSANE but I can't help it! I am so excited that they are starting to lay and I want to make sure I am getting to eat all those yummy eggs!!

 

[erikajoe]

Anyone else have any thoughts on this??

 

[jjdward]

Im with Ford on this one. Keep them in the coop for a few days, maybe even a week and they should get the hint. Another thing, Don't get stressed over chickens and them being crazy, they are like people in that each one is different. They'll come around! Hang in there.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

The best way to fix that problem is to let them out each evening a couple of hours before dark. They will have laid by then and you wont have to worry about them getting hurt by predators. We decided to make a larger run for the girls so we didnt feel guilty about them being in durning the day. They seem done playing after a couple of hours and go back in sometimes before dark...8:30 or so.

 

[erikajoe]

Quote:
I tried that and they actually waited and laid when I let them out around 6PM! I will keep them in. One of them layed in the nest box today. Hopefully she will keep it up!

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts and would keep them shut up in their coop for 2/3 days. Also I have golf balls in my nest boxes. Some people use fake eggs.

 

[Lucky Lucy]

I have my chickens inside a fence with a hen house for them to go into to roost and have boxes for them to lay eggs but they lay eggs in the hen yard and on the ground in the hen house. What can I do to get them to lay in the boxes that I have provided for them?
Thank you for your response