HI, I am a new chicken owner too as well as new to the site...any advice would be greatly appreciated! I have 2 leghorns and one Barred Rock, I got them as new hens that just started laying. The black one laid from day one and after a few days stopped. The other 2 have been laying pretty consistently but refuse to use the new nesting boxes. They all used them in the first coop, but after a week we moved them into a newer bigger one and now it's a free for all. In the woods, from the roosting bar....wherever! Well anyway, if anyone has any good tips or tricks I'm all ears. I do love them and am definitely hooked, my husband and sons are calling me the crazy chicken lady!
Hi and - glad that you've joined us. There's a few methods to try and encourage using the nest, ranging from putting gold balls in the nest, to keeping the girls in the coop until around midday, after they have laid. I'd suggest further reading on the subject. You'll find lots of info in the Learning Centre https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center, and if you have a specific topic in mind, just type it in the search box - there's a wealth of information on past and present threads. All the best CT
Thank you for the welcome, and yes I am still reading up on it...I feel so guilty leaving them in the coop, they don't sound happy about it.
Welcome to BYC Many members (myself included) had success placing fake eggs or golf balls in the nest boxes to show the hens where to lay. Making the next boxes more attractive (semi-dark and private with some nice bedding in it) should also help. Good luck!
