How do I get my Ladies to stop laying on their roost?

SaraMarie

Chirping
5 Years
May 10, 2020
18
16
81
Hey Everyone,
One of my girls started laying three weeks ago and is great about depositing her egg under the same tree everyday. Recently, I think, two others have begun "laying". A few mornings this week I have found rubbery, broken eggs at the bottom of their overnight roost. I have no idea what to do about this. Any suggestions? Also, not even the good layer will use the nest boxes in their coop.
 
Try adding in some fake eggs/golf balls in the nesting boxes and not letting them free range right now (if they are).
Couple of my hens started a week ago and laid here in a neat box which was great! The second one did also on the first day but the second day she laid it in the corner on the floor.
I added the fake eggs and gold balls into various nesting boxes and left a few open also.
Every day since I have had two eggs in my nesting boxes.
With 20+ other birds getting ready to lay over the next few weeks m leaving the fake eggs in there.
If you can reinforce this as a habit for them and their safe place they should do it routinely. After a few weeks I’d let them free range again.
Or let them free range after egg laying is done so it’s done where it’s supposed to be
 
Sara,

I think what RW is also implying is that you can use the fake eggs to help control where they lay.
 
Sara,

I think what RW is also implying is that you can use the fake eggs to help control where they lay.
I was yes. Thank you for clarifying that.
I have a nasty headache from a recent concussion that won’t go away so I’m a bit off haha.
When hens see there is an egg laid somewhere (even a fake egg) they believe that is a “safe” location for them to lay their egg.
As a result you can use it to your advantage to make life easier for you and control to some degree where they lay.
Although to be fair, it’s not 100% all the time.
Sometimes you have that one bird that has to be difficult or decides they want to be different lol
 
Try adding in some fake eggs/golf balls in the nesting boxes and not letting them free range right now (if they are).
Couple of my hens started a week ago and laid here in a neat box which was great! The second one did also on the first day but the second day she laid it in the corner on the floor.
I added the fake eggs and gold balls into various nesting boxes and left a few open also.
Every day since I have had two eggs in my nesting boxes.
With 20+ other birds getting ready to lay over the next few weeks m leaving the fake eggs in there.
If you can reinforce this as a habit for them and their safe place they should do it routinely. After a few weeks I’d let them free range again.
Or let them free range after egg laying is done so it’s done where it’s supposed to be


I do have fake eggs in their nesting boxes, but they do free range. I wasn't considering that a factor (except with the good layer) because the nest boxes are near the roosts and they are laying in the coop on the roosts. I'll try to keep them in for a few days and see if that doesn't do the trick.
 
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I was yes. Thank you for clarifying that.
I have a nasty headache from a recent concussion that won’t go away so I’m a bit off haha.
When hens see there is an egg laid somewhere (even a fake egg) they believe that is a “safe” location for them to lay their egg.
As a result you can use it to your advantage to make life easier for you and control to some degree where they lay.
Although to be fair, it’s not 100% all the time.
Sometimes you have that one bird that has to be difficult or decides they want to be different lol
Oh you did great actually! Don't worry.
Wish there were more people like you in the world.
 
I do have fake eggs in their nesting boxes, but they do free range. I wasn't considering that a factor (except with the good layer) because the nest boxes are near the roosts and they are laying in the coop on the roosts. I'll try to keep them in for a few days and see if that doesn't do the trick.
When you say their best boxes are near their roosts, it makes me wonder. Are they the same height?
If so the nesting boxes need to be lowered.
They prefer to roost high and nest/lay eggs low.
I understand it’s not always possible to do or sometimes space available makes it difficult
 
Not unusual for new layers to drop a few softies...and they can drop anywhere because they don't feel the same as hard shelled egg, and can be hard to pass because there is no hard surface for the contractions to work against.
Are you feeding layer feed and providing Oyster Shells in separate feeder?

I'll try to keep them in for a few days and see if that doesn't do the trick.
Might be a good idea.
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.



They prefer to roost high and nest/lay eggs low.
Half right.
They will roost as high as they can, so nests higher than roosts can lead to nest sleeping at night.
They will lay where they feel safe, high or low.
 
When you say their best boxes are near their roosts, it makes me wonder. Are they the same height?
If so the nesting boxes need to be lowered.
They prefer to roost high and nest/lay eggs low.
I understand it’s not always possible to do or sometimes space available makes it difficult
The nest boxes are similar in height, but there are three levels of boxes, bottom, middle and top.
 
So as long as they are only dropping soft, rubbery eggs I shouldn’t worry? I am feeding them layer feed and egg shells and oyster shells are out as an option. The good layer loves them.
 

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