How do you get new hens to lay in your nesting boxes?

[HappyFarmLady]

Hi! I am new to chickens. Most of my flock is 8 wks old. A few weeks ago I picked up a 1 1/2 yr old Blue Cochin at a swap. She will only lay under the steps to the coop. Last week I bought a 1yr old Black Copper Maran. She hasn't laid anything for me yet, but she won't spend any time in the nesting boxes either. What do I need to do to get these gals to use the boxes??

 

[eggsontoast]

I put a plastic egg in mine. Works mostly but not always. Their nesting box is a covered kitty litter box.

 

[Autumnchicken]

I put 3 golf balls in my boxes and it works like a charm!

 

[dragonchick]

Thanks for the replies and to the OP,I too was wondering how to do this. The egg I got today was laid in the grass even though someone is using the nest box for something. I see the shavings have been depressed like one of them was laying in it. I really would like them to lay in the nest box instead of the grass. Will try the golf ball trick tomorrow.

 

[cmom]

Golf balls.

 

[rudimyers]

I'm so glad to read this. Henrietta HAD been laying in a banker's box on the porch. We had a chicken-rabbit hutch then. My husband and I converted a Lowe's resin shed into a chicken coop with the intention of getting more hens. Since, there is no roost yet, we moved the chicken-rabbit hutch into the shed. I also moved the banker's box into the shed. Henrietta has been laying in the coop instead. Of course, some of the time, one of them (I have a rooster named Bob) has stepped on the egg. This morning, I found a stepped on egg in the attached run. Can't wait to try the golf ball idea!