How do you find hidden nests?!

[Chick15]

I am starting to think that our hens have another nest. Today I heard one singing an egg song from under the deck, I looked under there but i couldn't find any eggs or anything. Does anyone have any nest finding tips??

 

[kmatt87]

i haven't had to deal with that but i'd put one of my kids to work! lol. My middle son would love watching them and finding the hidden eggs. It'd be a giant game to him

 

[Ridgerunner]

The egg song does not necessarily mean they have laid an egg. It's a call they use to say "I'm separated from the flock. Where are you?" but it is often associated with egg laying. My rooster usually leaves the flock and goes to get the hen when one makes this call. He usually tries to mate with her too to welcome her back to the flock. I've even seen the rooster give this call when he is the one separated.

But it can mean they just laid an egg. I think you are very right to be suspicious.

If you can leave the flock locked in the coop and run, a hen that wants to go to her hidden nest will often pace the fence, looking for a way out when she is ready to lay. It's usually pretty obvious when you see this behavior. Eventually she will lay in a regular nest or somewhere in the coop or run, but she'll hold it as long as she can.

A hen that is hiding a nest will try to keep it hidden. If she sees you watching her, she may not go straight to the nest. So if you can lock her up until she is pacing and fairly desperate, and observe from a distance, she may lead you to her nest. But they can be pretty sneaky.

Good luck!!!

 

[doop]

Can you lock them up for a couple days? This will get them laying in their nest boxes again. I have trained my lab to track down my turkey nests, if it wasn't for him I don't think I'd find one of them they're pretty sneaky when they go off to lay.

 

[Chick15]

I am pretty sure because we have been getting less eggs than usual, I think its just cuz they are lazy when they are at the top of the yard and don't feel like walking down to the coop. Also, I forgot to mention that the other day my dog came over to me with an egg in her mouth, and she had come up from under the deck, so I know it is there somewhere,but it is hard to get under my deck...

this is hard...

 

[Time-Out]

The idea of keeping them locked up is a good one. I had one chicken who decided she really liked a cardboard box in the house. She would pace up and down the door until we opened it, then would run straight in. I put her in the coop she used to be in and she hasn't layed since. I think she misses her box

 

[Chick15]

Sorry... I havent been on here in forever! we found nests... 3 of them, one of them had 19 eggs!! We kept them in their run for a day, and now they lay there again. Thanks for your help!!

 

[LuckyMotherhen]

Sorry... I havent been on here in forever! we found nests... 3 of them, one of them had 19 eggs!! We kept them in their run for a day, and now they lay there again. Thanks for your help!!

Howd you find them
I have five girls and they just dont lay in the boxes

 

[aart]

Howd you find them
I have five girls and they just dont lay in the boxes

This is a very old thread.
You could leave them locked up until mid day, then watch where they go when released.

..or....
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.