hens laying eggs on ground

[ducknchickmama]

I just recently got 4 buff orpington hens and they are laying thier eggs on the ground!!!!! Is this normal, this is my first time raising chickens I have nesting boxes for them but they are laying them on the ground 3 to 4 eggs a day. I heard that you could leave eggs in the nest box and they would get the hint but with two roosters I am sure that the eggs are fertile so how long is too leave them....what should I do?

 

[groundpecker]

Try putting soft material and a golf ball in each nestbox. All of my birds like the nestboxes in a darkened area, so make sure there is little direct sunlight.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I just recently got 4 buff orpington hens and they are laying thier eggs on the ground!!!!! Is this normal, this is my first time raising chickens I have nesting boxes for them but they are laying them on the ground 3 to 4 eggs a day. I heard that you could leave eggs in the nest box and they would get the hint but with two roosters I am sure that the eggs are fertile so how long is too leave them....what should I do?

Just recently. Chickens take offense to change. They'll settle in and lay in the nest you provide, generally. However, since the hens' world was disrupted, they are a bit out of sorts. They don't "own" your nests yet as their persona space. Give it time. Changes like that can throw them for awhile. You don't know, I suppose, what their setup used to be? Were their laying boxes on the floor? Are your's up high? Do your nests require them to jump up to reach? Orps are large fowl and heavier LF don't care to do whole lot of jumping up and jumping down.

 

[trixanned]

My buffs occasionally lay on the ground in the run but I think its because the coop is too hot.

 

[ducknchickmama]

well when I went and picked them up I dont remember seeing a roost or nest boxes just pieces of tin leaned against the corners I also have a roost and they dont roost on it at night they roost on the ground. They dont seem upset but I am not a chicken whisperer or anything. And I was told if the hens are laying them they are not too upset.

 

[Fred's Hens]

lol, I didn't mean upset in the human sense, just they have to adjust to their new surroundings. Yes, if they are laying, they're adjusting just fine.

Now, you can continue to train them to lay in the nest boxes you provide instead of just plopping them onto the ground. If the nest boxes are low, to begin with, that's a plus. It's their nature to nest on the ground anyhow. Just have a laying box on the floor of the coop for now. Put some of their own eggs in their, or some golf balls often work too. Chicken's tend to like to make "piles" or clutches of eggs. Seeing a golf ball already in the nest sort of clues them to go ahead and add to the pile. They'll be fine. It just takes time.

Same with roosting. It will a bit of time, but they'll use them. Again, not 4 foot high as that is a long way up. Just a graduated step by step type will allow them easy use, as they get used to the idea.

 

[goldfinches]

Huh, interesting. I have a bunch of 9 weekers who won't roost for anything. I can't figure out why. I also have a SLW who won't lay in a nest box, eve though she has 17 other hens who show her every day what to do.

Fred's suggestions are wonderful - give them a try!

 

[charliewhiskey]

I am having this problem too. I have a hen(s) laying on the ground in a tractor. I have not yet made a door in so this is NOT FUN. I had 2 nest boxes in the coup section but it is occupied nightly as a roost. I am going to increase the roosting areas down low so this does not happen. Of course the issue with this situation is the filthy eggs that they do lay in the boxes, the breakage and the mess.

 

[junebuggena]

I am having this problem too. I have a hen(s) laying on the ground in a tractor. I have not yet made a door in so this is NOT FUN. I had 2 nest boxes in the coup section but it is occupied nightly as a roost. I am going to increase the roosting areas down low so this does not happen. Of course the issue with this situation is the filthy eggs that they do lay in the boxes, the breakage and the mess.

If your girls are sleeping in the nest boxes, lowering roosts won't help. First, you need to make sure that your roosts are higher than the nests. Then, you need to make sure the roosts are wide enough, at least 3 to 4 inches wide. Then, you need to block off the nests in the evening so they get in the habit of using the roosts instead of the nests.

 

[charliewhiskey]

If your girls are sleeping in the nest boxes, lowering roosts won't help. First, you need to make sure that your roosts are higher than the nests. Then, you need to make sure the roosts are wide enough, at least 3 to 4 inches wide. Then, you need to block off the nests in the evening so they get in the habit of using the roosts instead of the nests.

This makes sense. I now have roosts set up and they are higher, but closing the nests at night is a good idea.