How do I get my chickens to nest in the nesting boxes?

[ClickityChick123]

Hi everyone, right now I have a seven year old chickens that suddenly decided that she was going to lay eggs in the bottom of the coop. This is a problem because we have a lot of bedding in the bottom of the coop and the eggs usually end up getting buried for some time and then randomly showing up! We have some 19 week old pullets that should start laying soon and I don't want them laying in the bottom as well because the eggs tend to go bad after they get buried for a while. We have six nesting boxes for our five hens, all with fake eggs in them, and the hens laying don't even use them! Any advice is appreciated greatly!

 

[sourland]

Do you have bedding in the nest boxes? Grass hay has always been my favorite.

 

[ClickityChick123]

I have pine shavings in the nesting boxes.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Don't go out and buy hemp bedding ($$) because of this, but my three love it in the nest boxes. I have pine shavings on the coop floor. Maybe it helps set the nest boxes off as different??

Chickens, go figure!

 

[Altairsky]

Nest material should be different from floor bedding. Fake eggs help. Placing an obstacle or some temporary netting in their favorite floor nesting spot will discourage a stubborn hen.
A 7 years old lady might have trouble climbinh up to the nesting boxes.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photos of your nest box set up might help, in case there's something you've missed which might cause them to not want to use them.

Have the youngest birds started messing around in them at all?

 

[ClickityChick123]

Photos of your nest box set up might help, in case there's something you've missed which might cause them to not want to use them.

Have the youngest birds started messing around in them at all?

They've been sleeping in them since they were transferred from the brooder to the coop, but the other chickens sleep on the roost.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They've been sleeping in them since they were transferred from the brooder to the coop, but the other chickens sleep on the roost.

I'd oust them so they're not sleeping in there. You want them laying in there, not using it for shut eye.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

They've been sleeping in them since they were transferred from the brooder to the coop, but the other chickens sleep on the roost.

How much room is left on the roost bar when the others claim their spots? If it’s pretty tight, is there any room to add a second roost bar at the same height? Chickens often want to go up, if it’s safe.

 

[ClickityChick123]

How much room is left on the roost bar when the others claim their spots? If it’s pretty tight, is there any room to add a second roost bar at the same height? Chickens often want to go up, if it’s safe

There's plenty of room left after the three adults are up there (even the one who lays eggs on the bottom). We once had nine chickens sleeping up there at one time. The three that sleep in the nesting box were raised together if that changes anything.