Hen looking for her eggs

[Crystalcatch]

Hello - We have 5 chickens and had one nesting box. We noticed we weren't getting as many eggs as usual, but wondered if one or two were just slow producers. Yesterday I noticed Lola behind the shed under some wood. I lifted her to find 8 eggs! She and probably another hen have laying their eggs there. I removed the wood, and the eggs. Now she will not stop going to that spot digging for her eggs. She has been flying over the fence to look for them as well. What do I do? I have purchased another nesting box. Should I put the new nesting box in that spot where she was laying? How do I get her to stop flying over the fence?

 

[Tonyroo]

With 5 hens it's helpful to the hens to have 3 nesting boxes. Keep your nesting box where you want them not where the your hen wants it. If you have some fake eggs toss those in.

She will eventually give up looking for her eggs and find a new spot to lay. Encourage her to use the nesting boxes, even making the entrance to the box private helps. Like a small curtain drapes for example.

 

[Crystalcatch]

With 5 hens it's helpful to the hens to have 3 nesting boxes. Keep your nesting box where you want them not where the your hen wants it. If you have some fake eggs toss those in.

She will eventually give up looking for her eggs and find a new spot to lay. Encourage her to use the nesting boxes, even making the entrance to the box private helps. Like a small curtain drapes for example.

Thank you for the advise! I will do this today!

 

[aart]

Add at least one nest to the coop.....and....

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.