How to teach pullets to lay in nest boxes?

[mirandalola]

My backyard is overrun with pullets fussing and squawking, and every day is an easter-egg hunt! We've got about 2 dozen pullets who just started laying within the last week, and 3 who started laying 3 months ago. We find one or two eggs in the nest boxes every day, but we also find at least that many in random spots throughout the yard! How do I teach them to lay their eggs in the nest boxes?

 

[MageofMist]

I put a dummy egg in the nestbox I made for my hen and she started laying in it, seeing eggs in nests cues them to also lay eggs there.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Do you have a run that can be used to keep them close to the coop vs being in the yard at large? If so, that is step 1....proximity is key in establishing s good routine. ..the close they are to the nest when the time comes the more likely they are to use the nests.
Bait the boxes...wooden, ceramic eggs or golf balls, etc. Chicken see/chicken do...seeing "eggs"in a nest says "lay here".
Makr sure the nests are inviting to a chicken, they're are enough nests for the birds you have and no one is bullying the others away from the nests