Hens laying eggs on the ground

[Annasg]

I first became concerned about whether or not a predator was getting into my hen house and I posted questions about that but received no replies. I had found broken egg shells on the floor of the henhouse. Today I found an egg out in the run. It was still warm so I know I got to it before anything could happen to it. I have 5 hens and 6 laying boxes. I know that most of the time they will all lay in the same box. Today, I found an egg in 2 boxes and one in the run. One of my girls is kind of skiddish and I don't know if she was the one who laid the egg in the run. Whichever it was that laid the egg in the run, apparently, is the one laying on the floor. Can anyone tell me how to break this habit? Is it because she is new to laying? She has no problem getting into the boxes. Please help.

 

[LongRange308]

One of my girls layed in her run for her very first egg.. every egg after that was in the nesting box.

 

[carlf]

Other than locking her in the coop, not much. Give her time to work it out or put another nest box in the run.

 

[aart]

Put some fake eggs/golf balls in the nests to entice them to lay there.
It can take up to a month or so for them to get everything smoothed out.