how to encourage nest box investigating?

[kellykate]

My "ladies" are just over 18 weeks old. A couple weeks ago I put in the nesting boxes -- cozied them up with hay and left. I have never once seen my chickens even glance at the boxes. They don't get in them they don't stick their heads in -- nothing! I think I have a very slim chance of them laying in the nest-boxes --I know I'll be digging around in the bushes or finding them right in the middle of the floor!!

Is there anything I can do to encourage them to check them out? Will they know to hop in when they need to? I feel like my Australorp and Wyandotte are close to laying -- they are really red in the face.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I put a golf ball and 2 fake eggs in a nesting box. I move them around every couple of days. My BO laid her first egg under an apple tree, then she started laying on the floor of the coop by the door. (but it was VERY hot, so I suspect it was cooler there) Yesterday I got 3 eggs and all of them were in the boxes.

So in my limited experience, I say give it time and they will figure it out.

 

[fordmommy]

Put them in there once in a while WITH a fake egg.