Hens laying in outside nests

[Kimberly09]

A few of my chickens have stopped laying in the nesting boxes in the coop and are now laying in the guinea fowl nests outside in the woods. How can I get them to stop and continue laying in the coop? I should add they free range all day and go into the coop at night with the guinea fowl.

 

[aart]

Coop em up for a week.

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 for 3-4 days can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, 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.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Coop em up for a week.

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 for 3-4 days can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, 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.

X 2 -- when they develop a habit you do not like, you simply replace it with a new habit that you do like -- in the case of rogue laying, you remove the option for a period so that they become accustomed to using the intended nests.

 

[HeatherTheMommy]

Coop em up for a week.

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 for 3-4 days can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, 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.

X2. Im having to do this with mine now and they arent happy but i found a chicken with a secret next yesterday so now everyone is confined to the coop/run.