Hens not using their nesting boxes.

[abongo11]

Hi all,

I am brand new to backyard chickens. I started with 5 birds in the fall, and I just got my first 2 eggs over the past 2 days (very exciting). I built a nice nesting box with 3 nests in it that the egg will roll away and I can get it from outside the coop. But the girls that laid these eggs are creating their own nests on the floor of the coop instead of using the nesting boxes. So I thought I would ask if there is anything I can try to encourage the ladies to use my nice nesting boxes. Thank you.

 

[Ajp23]

This is pretty common for new layers. I had success putting fake eggs in the nesting boxes to encourage them to lay in the right spot. It worked fairly quickly!

 

[Loving my girls]

I absolutely agree with @Ajp23 another idea is to catch them while laying and gently lift them and put them into a nest box. I’ve had success with this a few times when my girls decide to play Easter egg hunt with me.

 

[abongo11]

This is pretty common for new layers. I had success putting fake eggs in the nesting boxes to encourage them to lay in the right spot. It worked fairly quickly!

Ah yes, that I have done already. I have a fake wooden egg in one of the boxes.

 

[Ajp23]

They might just need a little while to get the hang of it! I had a chicken once who was a new layer and wouldn’t lay until I let them out of the run. Then she’d hideaway in the kids’ treehouse to let her eggs

 

[Ebz5003]

Hi all,

I am brand new to backyard chickens. I started with 5 birds in the fall, and I just got my first 2 eggs over the past 2 days (very exciting). I built a nice nesting box with 3 nests in it that the egg will roll away and I can get it from outside the coop. But the girls that laid these eggs are creating their own nests on the floor of the coop instead of using the nesting boxes. So I thought I would ask if there is anything I can try to encourage the ladies to use my nice nesting boxes. Thank you.

ARe the nesting boxes in a very congested, busy area? I ask because I had the same problem; they wouldn't lay eggs in the nesting boxes of our big coop, where all the young pullets like to hang out. They instead all lay eggs in nesting boxes in a tiny prefab coop from Tractor Supply that is fairly dark, quiet, and away from the general areas. I figure they must feel like it is safer/ less stressful to lay in that one. If it is in a congested area, maybe putting up a piece of cloth for separation would encourage them to lay in there.