How to convince the girls to use the nesting boxes

[journey11]

I use plastic pastel Easter eggs filled with sand. MUCH cheaper than the dummy eggs you can buy and works like a charm. I don't think they care so much how it looks as how it feels.

 

[fuzidragonbunnie]

Ours really like the old covered cat litter boxes. We have pine shavings in there also. I think they like the privacy and it's darkish without being completely dark. Good luck!

 

[lindym]

Well, we added a partial "curtain" of burlap across the upper half off the opening to the nest boxes, put in shavings and have golf balls in just 2 of the four boxes.

Sooooo, either my girls don't care about privacy or they are just so new at this they don't know they are dropping eggs, but we find them right in the doorway going out into the run

While we were out there a bit ago, the EE that I think may be one of the ones laying, was peering into one of the boxes that has golf ball "eggs", then she went over into a corner and started muttering to herself. Soon the rest of the hens were over in the corner with her

. We left and they all went back out into the run. Strange birdies

Linda

 

[lindym]

I'm not sure what made a difference, but we had an egg in one of the boxes

The other 3 boxes had the "furniture" all rearranged, but no eggs. It is hit or miss as far as laying goes. We have 4 known hens but they are just getting started.

Linda

 

[reondo63]

about 3-4 of my 9 girls are laying now. they lay in the nesting box most of the time. However.... i am finding an egg or 2 under their roost on the droppings board. how can i get them in the box?

 

[Metanoia]

Try and catch them out. I have 6 hens and 2 nest boxes with straw. I caught one sitting on the floor in the coop so I popped her in a nest box and for the last few days our egg on the floor problem has been solved. "ohhh! Is that what those boxes are for?"

 

[NotTheMomma]

Quote:
They were huddling in the corner discussing you, and trying to figure out how much longer they could keep up the playing stupid game.

 

[lindym]

Quote:
Hahahahah. Probably so

 

[MIKE555444]

With my Buff Orpintons I have 8 of them that have started laying... the first pullet started laying in the floor and has never layed anywhere else. The others use the nests...I keep messing up her nest in the floor and she just makes a new one for the next day lol. Last night I add a little more nesting material to the nests and put down a few pieces of plywood where she normally lays every day... maybe that will make her look elsewhere for a nest.

Good Luck!