I moved a few things in the run . . . how dare I!

[redinator]

A few days ago one of my pullets laid an egg on the floor of the run. I have a nestbox in the run with a nesting pad and a fake egg. Initially I wasn't concerned that she didn't lay in the nest box since it was her first egg, I figured she'd eventually figure it out. I took the egg inside cleaned it off took some pictures, boiled it and fed it back to the chickens, it was too small to really do anything with it. I didn't get an egg for another full day and it was laid in roughly the same spot.

Here's where things go wrong . . . I decided to rearrange things in the run so I could put the nest box in the area she likes to lay her egg. So far she seems to lay every other day, perfectly formed and clean eggs (except the first one).

The problem is now they refuse to go in at night. I have to move them in one at a time . . . . should I shut them in for a few days like I did when I first put them outside? Their feeders and waterers are in there and they'll go in to eat and drink, but won't go in at night.

 

[Debbie292d]

Is sleeping in the coop a new thing to them? I am under the impression they already were, and now they aren't?

If it's new to them, I've used a rechargeable lantern to put inside the chicken door. That usually helped a lot.

If it's the other way, there's something they don't like in there then I guess. Anything new like new bedding or something?

 

[MROO]

A few days ago one of my pullets laid an egg on the floor of the run. I have a nestbox in the run with a nesting pad and a fake egg. Initially I wasn't concerned that she didn't lay in the nest box since it was her first egg, I figured she'd eventually figure it out. I took the egg inside cleaned it off took some pictures, boiled it and fed it back to the chickens, it was too small to really do anything with it. I didn't get an egg for another full day and it was laid in roughly the same spot.

Here's where things go wrong . . . I decided to rearrange things in the run so I could put the nest box in the area she likes to lay her egg. So far she seems to lay every other day, perfectly formed and clean eggs (except the first one).

The problem is now they refuse to go in at night. I have to move them in one at a time . . . . should I shut them in for a few days like I did when I first put them outside? Their feeders and waterers are in there and they'll go in to eat and drink, but won't go in at night.

You big MEANIE! How dare you play "Interior Decorator" without their permission? Try a nightlight, for sure, but give them time. They'll figure it out!

 

[redinator]

You big MEANIE! How dare you play "Interior Decorator" without their permission? Try a nightlight, for sure, but give them time. They'll figure it out!

I know right, shame on me for making things nicer/easier for them. Lol

 

[redinator]

Is sleeping in the coop a new thing to them? I am under the impression they already were, and now they aren't?

If it's new to them, I've used a rechargeable lantern to put inside the chicken door. That usually helped a lot.

If it's the other way, there's something they don't like in there then I guess. Anything new like new bedding or something?

They've been going in with no problem until I moved a few things around inside. I should clarify, it's an open air coop/run, they 'free range' in the yard most of the day.

I moved the nestbox in and added a few extra feeders and waterers. I'm planning on leaving them in there for a couple of days while we do some work in the main yard so I wanted to make it more comfortable.

The nightlight might work, maybe they can't find there way round once it starts getting dark with the new arrangement. I'll give that a try.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Doesn't help with your current dilemma, but I'd rearrange things even more frequently. I'm constantly moving stuff around. They get used to it once it becomes the norm.