Hen getting ready to start laying but I'm afraid it won't be in the coop I want her to use

[Chickie YumYum]

Hi guys. I've graduated now to a 4-month-old newbie chickie mama. And I need to know if I have messed up something and if I did how to correct it if possible. Here's a picture of how my coops and run are set up now- the 2 coops are exactly alike(there was a sale) two nesting boxes in each one and 2 roosting poles. I have 4 hens 2 orps and 2 australopes and 1 Easter Egger rooster. I love my Roo Roo-he watches out for his ladies getting them under the deck if he sees a hawk shadow The problem is they all sleep in 1 of the coops. Will that be a problem when the hens start laying eggs? I've got 1 Aussie that should be laying soon (the man I got them from apparently had no idea how old the pullets were). In the coop sleeping the 4 little hens sleep in behind the rooster and he sleeps in the doorway. When they start laying, will they try to lay in that coop and still leave the other empty or do you think they will lay in the empty coop? I was going to put a couple of fake eggs in there to give her the idea.I dont want her to lay them under the deck or somewhere in the yard. They've made a dirt bath under the deck. They are free run all day and Roo puts them in the coop at night. Could you please give me some advice Should I have kept the rooster separate each night? I mean he's just really good with them but I need whatever advice you can give me. Should I put the fake eggs in the other coop and have her sleep in there a couple of nights? I don't want to stress her out being away from everybody.
I want to tell you something funny also. I looked up day before yesterday and there were these five little heads lined up in front of my deck door looking in at my collie and me with the rooster knocking on the door. They were so cute. I'm going to end up with a chicken in the house one of these days. I have 2 more questions but I'm going to ask 1 at a time to keep myself straight. You guys are the best group in the world.
Thanks for any advice you can give me on corrections I may need to make and help keep me from having an egg hunt every day. The eggs would be eaten by predators, especially raccoons, if they are laid outside the coops and run. They all sleep in the right one. I want them to lay eggs in the left one.

 

[aart]

Here's a picture of how my coops and run are set

Not seeing any pics?

When they start laying, will they try to lay in that coop

Probably yes, as that's where they feel most comfortable.
Tho because you free range she could decide to lay anywhere in the range area. Sometimes it's best to confine newly laying birds to the coop and run so they get used to laying there.

 

[Chickie YumYum]

Not seeing any pics?


Probably yes, as that's where they feel most comfortable.
Tho because you free range she could decide to lay anywhere in the range area. Sometimes it's best to confine newly laying birds to the coop and run so they get used to laying there.

Where'd my picture go?

 

[Chickie YumYum]

Not seeing any pics?


Probably yes, as that's where they feel most comfortable.
Tho because you free range she could decide to lay anywhere in the range area. Sometimes it's best to confine newly laying birds to the coop and run so they get used to laying there.

 

[Chickie YumYum]

I have a piece that I could use to block off the right side and I already have water and food under each coop cause I never know where the storms are going to come from. The run gets quite muddy when it really rains so I think I'm going to use the slats from an old Boxspring to make a slightly raised run to get their feet out of the mud. What do you think?
I live in extremely south central VA.

 

[Chickie YumYum]

Not seeing any pics?


Probably yes, as that's where they feel most comfortable.
Tho because you free range she could decide to lay anywhere in the range area. Sometimes it's best to confine newly laying birds to the coop and run so they get used to laying there.

Thank you so much for the advice. I wouldn't have thought to separate them until she was used to laying on that coop. So you think maybe when the others start laying, they'll take their cue from her? Or will I have to just keep adding them until they're all laying there?

 

[FrostRanger]

I'd put some fake eggs in the box you want her to use. The fake eggs will indicate to her that it's a safe place to lay her eggs. I train all my birds to lay where I want them to with fake eggs. I do also second keeping them mostly confined until everyone is using the nest box reliably. You can still let them out a bit before sunset, most birds will be done laying before then (keyword is *most*. Chickens can honestly lay at any hour, if in doubt just wait until everyone has laid for the day and supervise while they freerange)

 

[FrostRanger]

I will also add that setup is quite small, you'd ideally want a total of 20 square feet in the coop and 50 square feet of run space at a bare minimum for the amount of birds you have

 

[Themellowyellows]

Put fake eggs in the nest boxes. It should not be a problem with them all sleeping in there.

 

[ChicNmom]

Many people say to leave them in the coop until around noon so they lay their eggs there. I've only had broody hens try to hide a nest in the yard. They usually want to lay their eggs in a place they feel safe.

But you should definitely do something about the drainage in the coop. You don't want them in mud. There is one illness that chickens can get or be more susceptible to in damp conditions. But my brain can't think of it right now. LOL