Hens won't lay in nesting boxes.

[redhd077]

I have 9 full grown, various ages and breeds and I also have 11 almost 20 week old chicks. About a month ago I was having a terrible time with an egg eater, well several I think, so I spent a whole day revamping the old nesting boxes (at this point my younger hens were not laying but my big hens were) I made them into roll away boxes with green turf as the liner. The hens were not to crazy about them so I added a bit of straw so they could get use to them. I have 3 or 4 eggs layers in the "new" boxes and I was pretty excited! Then all of a sudden no eggs! I free range so I thought they have a secret nest some where....not the first time it's happened, so I keep them locked in for about 5 days and still no egg?! I searched and searched can't find a nest. I had one that was molting and began to wonder if they all were molting. I know it would be crazy but I couldn't explain it. Then one day I follow a hen into some weeds and bam.....a nest of 10 eggs! No no no! In the mean time my little girls started laying, but they began laying on the floor of the coop! Ugh! I had golf balls in the nests and I even switch them out for some ceramic eggs. I even put a few boxes that are not the roll away type, but just have a little curtain.... Nope they don't like that either! Now the big girls are laying on the floor! I've kept them locked in in hope they will get things figured out again, but so far no luck! Anyone have any ideas?

 

[redhd077]

Also my coop is a two room old farm house, I have nesting boxes in the front room and they are laying in a corner of the back room, should I try moving my nesting boxes back there?

 

[aart]

Also my coop is a two room old farm house, I have nesting boxes in the front room and they are laying in a corner of the back room, should I try moving my nesting boxes back there?

Post a pic of your nests?

I'd leave them locked in the coop until they start using the nests.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

As suggested above, a photo of the boxes would be helpful - also a photo showing the whole interior of the coop. Do you have a run attached to the coop that can be used to confine the birds near the coop without having to lock them in entirely? Is the front room lighter than the back room?

 

[Messipaw]

You should take one of their eggs a plastic egg or a golf ball and place it in the nesting boxes. Keep them confined in the nest box area if you can. They will get into the correct routine. Good luck.

 

[redhd077]

Roll away nesting boxes

Boxes with curtains

So since I've posted I've had 3 chickens use a box! Wahoo! One young girl use one of the roll away boxes and one big girl and one little girl used the ones with the curtain.
To answers some questions.... I have been keeping them locked in since last monday. I do not have a run.... They free range or they are locked in. I have golf balls and ceramic eggs in the nesting boxes and always have. The nesting boxes in the pictures are all in the front room of the coop like they have always been and the last picture is where they had been laying.... I moved the roost and an empty water over there to help keep them from lay in that corner. I'd say the back room is darker in the morning and evening but the same the rest of the day.