My hens just started laying about a week ago. The problem is, not one egg has been in the nest boxes. I have found 3 in the coop, but the other 17 we have found have been all over the yard! In window wells, under the deck, inthe middle of the yard, you name it. So, is there anything I can do to get them to lay in the nest boxes? Or at least to contain the eggs to the run or coop?
you could lock them in the coop for a few days maybe they would see one use the nestbox and the rest would follow.
Keep them in the coop until they lay each morning until they get the habit of laying in the boxes. Use fake eggs to draw them to the boxes.
Yup--- Try the fake egg/golfball trick. Also, if you have room to lock them in a coop for a day or two, that also may help. My experience has been the hens all want to lay eggs in the same place. My girls have eight nest boxes, but they all want to use the same one. Silly, but cute. Good luck.
Yep, lockdown and throw a few golf balls into the nest boxes. They probably don't know what/where their boxes are.
I had a similar problem. They kept laying in grassy areas that hadn't been weed-eated along the fenceline. So on a whim, I threw a couple big handfuls of hay in the coop where I wanted them to nest. Now they get very vocal if the coop door isn't open for them to lay in the hay at their convenience. It's cute as heck.
I agree with all about lock them up for a while. I would locked them up for a week and only let them out for an hour or two right before dust. They should have laid any eggs by then.
My first thought when I read the topic heading: "...Hens laying all over the yard!" Was there had been a massacre. Whew! Good news! Hens are laying EGGS all over the yard. So you're kind of having an Easter Egg hunt everyday? <Sorry, I have nothing CONSTRUCTIVE to add. Just struck me as kind of fun to have a celebration everyday!>
