Hens not laying in nest boxes.

[Joshua G]

I have 25+ Barred Rock hens. Although only 2 are laying, they won't lay their eggs in the nest boxes like my last flock would.
I have found 2 eggs outside the coop but the rest are always layed under the nesting boxes.
I have put golf balls in the nests to encourage the hens to lay their but, to no avail.
Any ideas as to why they aren't laying where they should be?
Thanks

 

[subhanalah]

Can you show us a picture of your set up?

 

[Joshua G]

They are 1 foot off the floor & each nest is 1 foot wide, tall, and long.
(This is before I filled the coop with straw.)

 

[subhanalah]

Could you make one long perch for them going parallel to the nest boxes?

My pullets didn't like the straw...The do like the pine shavings.
When do they lay and when do you let them out?

 

[Joshua G]

Was going to do that but...never got around to it.

 

[subhanalah]

I don't know if that's significant or not..my nest box is on the ground..I need to make more, but it's just going to be a smaller crate on top of the one I'm using.

 

[Joshua G]

I have read where people have the nests on the ground until the pullets get used to them, then they move them up a few feet off the ground.
I just wonder why my old hens layed in the nest without any problems.
I will say that most of the hens sleep in the nests and end up contaminating them throughout the night, I had that problem with my old flock until they started laying eggs in them.
Maybe if I give them more time, then they might get the hang of it.

 

[subhanalah]

Make them sleep on the roosts. How high are your roosts?

They don't like change either lol.

 

[Joshua G]

1 and 2 feet off the ground.
The roosts are full because of too many chickens.
However, come Wednesday I will have sold 1/2 of my flock to a friend.
It may be time for a new coop as I want 1,000,000+ chickens.

 

[subhanalah]

I am not sure how to say this, but perhaps once you get your management under control, the girls will get all straightened out again. I hope my words are not harsh.