how do you break them........

[d1]

I got some hens in the early fall and most have settled down and started laying again the only probem is some of the new hens are laying on the ground anywhere they want. they used nest boxes in the other mans coop and my hens are still using the boxes. how do you break them?

 

[Judy]

I wonder if your old hens are preventing the new ones from using the nests. Could you create a couple of nests out of something lying around -- cardboard box, plastic bin, 5 gallon bucket, etc? Especially if you could put them in a little different spot. You might put a golf ball or plastic easter egg in there to suggest this is a good place to lay eggs.

 

[aggiemae]

Our bossy chicken will chase the "low" chicken out of BOTH nest boxes if she wants to lay. A medium size bucket with 2/3 of the lid sliced off and filled with bedding works great as a portable nest box. We used a squarish kitty litter pail, they make good removable nestbox liners too.