hiding eggs

[ladywithchickens18]

Would my chickens let me know if they laid an egg somewhere other than there nesting boxes? any signs to look for if they did lay? still haven't seen them in boxes they don't even seem to be interested? Rhode islands are almost 30 weeks, I have eggs in there boxes to show them, they get oyster shells as part of their diet, it is still fairly chilly where I live! is that a factor? waddles and combs are a beautiful red color! they are free range, I let them out in the morning.
hard waiting for eggs!!

 

[Kat2141]

if they are free ranging, you may be in for an Easter Egg hunt. LOL I have 8 girls and if they are locked in the stall & run, I get at least 7 eggs every day. If I let them out to free range for the day, I may only get 4. I've looked all over for the others. They used to use the one manger in another horse stall, but they abandoned that, now I don't know where they go.

 

[jblackb042]

I shut mine in the coop when they are getting close to laying. Then keep them in there for a couple weeks after they start, so they get used to laying in the boxes. Once they start laying consistently in the boxes I let them out to free range. Haven't had any problems with them laying outside the boxes. Every now and then i have one lay in the floor of the hen house because the box they want is occupied. but that is as far away as they get. I have 17 laying right now and I average 12-14 eggs per day in the boxes.

 

[Perris]

Would my chickens let me know if they laid an egg somewhere other than there nesting boxes? any signs to look for if they did lay?

From my experience, I'd say no to your first question, and you need to allow quite a bit of time for a solution to the second if they are hiding eggs: you have to keep watch to see if anyone's disappearing off on their own. If so, next day about an hour later keep a close eye on that hen, and follow her at a distance if she separates off. If she then vanishes, at least you know approximately where to focus your search. Then hunt for her in the undergrowth round there. Repeat daily till you locate it. If you are lucky there will be lots of eggs If you still haven't found the nest when her laying cycle gets to late in the day, skip a day, and the next day keep her shut in until she has laid in the coop.

 

[aart]

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.