Hens stopped laying in coop...

[luvmyEs]

...and I don't know how to make them start back. They stopped when 1 of my silkies went broody and banned the rest of the hens from laying in all the nest boxes. She has been moved and 2 silkies are laying in there again. However, my BO and RIR are laying all over the yard (6 acres). As soon as I find the nest, the next day they move it to somewhere else in the yard. I've locked them in the coop for a couple days. For 2 days following that, they laid in there and then quit. What do I need to do?? "Jail" them again?

 

[Den in Penn]

Yes jail them again, they are breaking the rules. You can parole them in the evening. Keep them on parole for a week or so. Then lenghten the time for good behavior if they are laying in the nest boxes. Make their laying in the nest boxes habit. Eventually they may become model citizens, if you keep a firm rule.