How to Encourage Nest Box Laying

[GodLovesU]

I recently bought my chickens a three section nest box. It’s a rollaway, because my chickens keep eating their own eggs. I had put artificial eggs in each box, secured with putty. I cleaned the coop today and put a layer of wood shavings in each nest. I put a thin layer of wood chips in the rest of the coop. Any additional advice to get them to lay in the boxes? My grandma will be caring for them for about 10 days and I would like for this to be as easy for her as possible.

 

[WingItRanch]

Sounds like you're doing everything right. Some people suggest curtains so they can have "privacy" but I just use the fake eggs and that seems to work.

Are these new pullets or older hens that just have an unfamiliar nest box to them? If they are not new-to-you hens, you may have to block off the location they used to lay before you got this new rollaway box.

 

[GodLovesU]

Sounds like you're doing everything right. Some people suggest curtains so they can have "privacy" but I just use the fake eggs and that seems to work.

Are these new pullets or older hens that just have an unfamiliar nest box to them? If they are not new-to-you hens, you may have to block off the location they used to lay before you got this new rollaway box.

They are aged 1-10 years old. The place they used to lay is behind their perches.