Hens not laying in nest boxes

[Crissy7]

I have some young hands that are about four months old that I’ve just started laying eggs. I have ceramic eggs in the nest boxes but they are not laying their eggs there. They’re making a nest in the bedding in random areas in the coop and laying eggs there. Should I change the bedding in the coop to sand and keep shavings in the boxes? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Crissy7]

I have some young hands that are about four months old that I’ve just started laying eggs. I have ceramic eggs in the nest boxes but they are not laying their eggs there. They’re making a nest in the bedding in random areas in the coop and laying eggs there. Should I change the bedding in the coop to sand and keep shavings in the boxes? Any advice is appreciated.

I am sorry the pictures are sideways. I don’t know how to fix it.

 

[orloffer]

It is possible your pullets are not understanding that these are, in fact, meant to be nesting boxes. This could be because they are on ground level and not separated from the rest of the floor. Maybe your chickens want more secluded, protective-seeming spaces for laying their eggs? Some people put 'curtains' in front of the boxes to make them seem more isolated, and I personally use cat litter boxes.

 

[Crissy7]

Thank you for that advice orloffer!

 

[Lydia Huizenga]

I use timothy hay in my nesting boxes. Put it in a pile in the center of the box. Then, I put my fist in the top of the hay and spin it in a circle to form more of a nest. As soon as.I did that, they started laying in the nesting boxes again.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Sometimes newly laying pullets don’t understand where they need to lay. I would just try to make the nest boxes as attractive as possible. I find curtains work wonderfully, and they add a nice touch to the coop.

 

[MarkJr]

I’ll add using fake egg in a couple or all of the nests to show them where to lay.

 

[aart]

I would put some fronts on the nests, 4-6" high, and use different bedding in the nests than what's on the floor.