How can I get my hens to lay in their new boxes?

[GracePoultry]

I have a flock of egg eating hens (it isn't a protein deficiency so that's good!) 5 hens, at least 2 of which are laying 2-3 times a week even with the shorter days. For Christmas my parents gifted me roll away nesting boxes, it's about the same size as their old nesting boxes and has 5 compartments just like the other one does.

I blocked the old one's off and zip-tied a fake egg in one of the compartments as it would roll away if I didn't. my chickens free range most days so I have been keeping them in their run and coop so they wouldn't change to laying somewhere in the backyard.

They aren't scared of it, because I found poop and shavings in it when I went to clean it today. still no eggs though. but I did find 2 eggshells outside of the boxes that had been pecked open and eaten. The one problem with the boxes is I can't add bedding to it, so I think that might be why they Don't want to lay there. any tips?

 

[BDutch]

I have no experience with egg eaters.
But I knew there is an article on this subject. maybe its helpfull?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/six-tips-on-breaking-your-egg-eater.63022/

Do read the comments too.

 

[BDutch]

At what age did you get these 5 chickens? How were they kept previously? Did you get them with the problem or started the egg eating problem later? How many egg eaters do you have?

How strong are the scales of the eggs? - maybe provide oyster shells/egg shells might help.

Do the chickens have access to feed the whole day? - are they never hungry?

How much space do your chickens have, and do they have things to do like scratch for food? - are the chickens active/no fighting of other stress behaviour?

Answering these questions for yourself might help you to understand and find a solution.
Answering them here can trigger BYC members with more experience to give you personal advice on how to deal with the egg eating problem.

The roll away nest-boxes are a technical solution. Not a way to make it comfortable for the chickens to lay an egg.

 

[aart]

The one problem with the boxes is I can't add bedding to it, so I think that might be why they Don't want to lay there. any tips?

You might have to add some bedding at first, then once they start using them slowly remove the bedding until the roll feature works.

 

[Daisy June]

I have a flock of egg eating hens (it isn't a protein deficiency so that's good!) 5 hens, at least 2 of which are laying 2-3 times a week even with the shorter days. For Christmas my parents gifted me roll away nesting boxes, it's about the same size as their old nesting boxes and has 5 compartments just like the other one does.

I blocked the old one's off and zip-tied a fake egg in one of the compartments as it would roll away if I didn't. my chickens free range most days so I have been keeping them in their run and coop so they wouldn't change to laying somewhere in the backyard.

They aren't scared of it, because I found poop and shavings in it when I went to clean it today. still no eggs though. but I did find 2 eggshells outside of the boxes that had been pecked open and eaten. The one problem with the boxes is I can't add bedding to it, so I think that might be why they Don't want to lay there. any tips?

I have experienced the egg eating, too. After some research, I did three things that seemed to help: First, I started fermenting feed to strengthen the egg's shells. My chickens get both dry and fermented daily. Not only did the shells become stronger very quickly, the eggs became weightier. I wondered if the fragility of the eggs prior to fermenting had some bearing on the egg eating problem. Second, I collected the golf balls that our neighbor whacks onto our property when they're outside practicing their swing. I placed a few golf balls atop of each (3) nesting boxes. Three, and this might have been the reason for quick success. I watched carefully each time a chicken went up into the nesting boxes and came out, I went directly over and got the eggs before little Miss EggEater (suspect never did get caught) could get her naughty little beak into more eggs.