hens laying in neighbor's box

[Alyssabham]

Hello! 3 out of our 4 hens are laying, but it seems like they are laying more in our neighbor's nesting box. I have noticed that ours tend to sleep in their nesting box, which I've read will deter them from laying in there. Any other tips to train them to lay in their own box?? I will also say that their coop is fairly small and they are used to free ranging vast majority of the day. Thank you!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I need some clarification... the chickens are going into your neighbor's yard and coop and laying their eggs in the neighbor's nesting box?
If this is so, I would put up a fence to keep them in my own yard.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

...you and your neighbors are sharing a flock. You can try adding fake eggs to your own nesting boxes and if this doesn't work, you may have to block their access to the neighbor's coop.

 

[MarkJr]

How crowded are they? And what breed?

Typically offer roosts above the nest, and close access to them at roost time. Open back up in the morning. Once they get used to roosting vs piling into nest boxes, put fake eggs in box and lock them in for a week. No parole. They will reset to their ‘home’ boxes.

I question them using the neighbors boxes also. I know my bunch wouldn’t stand for a stranger to come around. Using their box would be cause for a flogging.

 

[RainbowHen]

Are your neighbors aware? You can lock your birds in your coop for a while to train them to lay in there. Do you have a secure run?

 

[Alyssabham]

I need some clarification... the chickens are going into your neighbor's yard and coop and laying their eggs in the neighbor's nesting box?
If this is so, I would put up a fence to keep them in my own yard.

Yes, they are going to the neighbors yard and nesting box and laying. We share a driveway, so there’s not a way to put a fence around to keep them in out yard.

 

[Alyssabham]

How crowded are they? And what breed?

Typically offer roosts above the nest, and close access to them at roost time. Open back up in the morning. Once they get used to roosting vs piling into nest boxes, put fake eggs in box and lock them in for a week. No parole. They will reset to their ‘home’ boxes.

I question them using the neighbors boxes also. I know my bunch wouldn’t stand for a stranger to come around. Using their box would be cause for a flogging.

We have a Wyandotte, Ameraucana, Sussex and Wellsummer. They have a decent sized coop, one that could easily fit 6. They have roosts near the nesting boxes but they seem to sleep in the nesting boxes instead.
Our neighbors are close, we share a driveway and there isn’t a fence in between so their 6 hens and ours interact and roam in both yards.
I’ve read locking them in for several days, is that the best option? First time chicken mom so I’m nervous they’ll get antsy or aggressive with each other since they are so used to free ranging during the day.

 

[MarkJr]

We will need dimensions of the coop and run in feet by feet. To have an educated guess if they’ll be aggressive and pick on each other.

Also a picture of the inside of your coop would literally be worth a thousand words. Some bright folks here that can suggest the smallest tweaks that fix issues straight away.

There will be a fix for this.

 

[MarkJr]

Also, roosts near doesn’t explain roosts above. They naturally seek highest safe spot to roost. Shutting them out of their comfort zone typically makes them find ‘the best spot’. If you provide roosts that are higher than the nest boxes, that should be their next choice.

After a few nights on their roost, it becomes habit. You can open your boxes full time after that.

 

[Alyssabham]

We will need dimensions of the coop and run in feet by feet. To have an educated guess if they’ll be aggressive and pick on each other.

Also a picture of the inside of your coop would literally be worth a thousand words. Some bright folks here that can suggest the smallest tweaks that fix issues straight away.

There will be a fix for this.

Thank you so much! I’ll post pictures in here in the AM.