hens laying from roost

[jsanders]

My girls have doind good, starting to lay. I notices a week or so ago an egg under the roost, then everyday afterwards. Now it seems another hen has started laying on the roost. They were all but 1 using the nest boxes and thought they would come around. Any suggestions?

 

[4-H chicken mom]

I use a fake egg in my boxes and it works well but I still get an egg on the floor once in a while. I think they just couldn't wait for an empty box.

 

[newchicksnducks]

Are these fully formed, hard shelled eggs? Or are they the soft shelled (or no shelled!) egg? My flock is young, and I get anywhere between 6-2 eggs from my 15 birds (many not yet laying). But some of the girls are getting "practice eggs" or beginner eggs. They're soft when touched - kinda like a jello wriggler These are layed from the roost at night...I don't think they quite understand what it is...just a big poop? I've only had one of these eggs layed in the nest box, but have had 6 now on the droppings board under the roost. I keep following the advice of others to offer layer food, free choice oyster shell, and try ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar w/mother in it) in the water to help calcium be absorbed.

 

[jerseygirl1]

I noticed that when my flock free-ranges during the day, one of them will lay from the roost at night. Maybe because she 'forgets' that she is suppoed to go in the nest box during the day?

 

[Chickn chick 46]

I've also started to have this problem. The egg is hard shelled but always dented from landing on the droppings board below. It seems its been laid during the night or early morning because its covered in poo

I hard boil it and give it back to them.

I'm not sure what to do about it either. I'm hoping its just young layers not yet getting the idea to get to the nest box when they need to.

Good Luck!

 

[jsanders]

they are fully formed. the girls free range. I have 2 boxes and they only use one. 4 hens. I'm going to make the coop a little cozier and see if that helps. I use golf balls as fake eggs. I think there is 1 or 2 chickens that just won't lay in the box.

 

[crooked stripe]

I also had the problem of laying while roosting. One day I was out of straw and put wood chips in the nest boxes when cleaning. The roost laying stopped. Wood chips are the norm for the nest boxes now and have not had that problem since.

 

[jsanders]

I was thinking about changing from straw to chips. I'll do that and let you know how it does.