If I free range my chickens will they still lay eggs in the coop

[TeriS]

My hens free range after I get home from work, until bed time, and they always lay in their coop. A few months ago, however, (On a weekend when I let them out in the morning and they put themselves in at night, then I shut them up), I found about 5 eggs in the cat house that has straw in it. I took all the eggs out and they quit laying there.

 

[kareninthesun]

They know where their home is. The first egg was laid out on the grass, I think because they were inexperienced. But from then on, they were all laid in the nesting boxes, except one whom missed the landing zone, I think to a pile up and probably being on top (they like to share the same box instead of any of the other ones). I found it helpful to put in two lights, one on the first floor of the coop, the second on the top floor where they roost. They are both on timers, and the second one turns off first, right at 8 PM, although they are already inside and upstairs. The second light goes off eight minutes later, figured that between the two, they'd be a beacon to remind the girls where home is one the sun stretches long. Maybe I'm giving them too much credit, but I figure that if they are happy and comfortable, and feel safe, close to what ever they need, they will be more likely to nest there, especially if they bond enough and seek the sisterly relationship with the other hens. Seems to work, because I ended up removing a wall between the highly favored nest and the one next to it to accomedate more hens seeking a place to lay. These social skills are climbing, because while they USED to be fairly quiet when laying, I can always tell when there are more than three up there, kinda like a cheerleading camp. And yes, they free range, though its time to clip wings again. Caught an EE on the roof of the coop.

 

[Aria]

Our Silkie Chickens free range...except in Winter. They are in the Barn with an outside run.
AND THEY ALWAYS LAY THEIR EGGS IN THE BARN IN THE NESTING BOXES.

 

[ozark_chickies]

They will probably lay in the hen house, but there is a chance one will find a new spot. Last year we found eggs in the garden, under the riding lawn mower, and under my peonies from my free range hens.

 

[JodyJo]

Quote:
this is when you lock them up for a few extra hours a day for a week till they 'remember' where the eggs belong, I had to do this 2 times, before all the girls got the hint!

 

[ozark_chickies]

Quote:
this is when you lock them up for a few extra hours a day for a week till they 'remember' where the eggs belong, I had to do this 2 times, before all the girls got the hint!

We stopped free ranging at all for a week, and that straighted them out. I woulkd have done the reduced hours, but my hens were laying at all hours, right up till almost dark.

 

[Jajika]

Mine still lay in a coop although they free range. In addition they all want to lay in exactly the same place.

I've seen them line up by the coop door to take turns. It's really funny.

 

[AshleyW]

Mine free range all day and lay in the coop for the most part unless one is already in the coop in their favorite spot. Some days its like an egg hunt though.

 

[Ole and Lena]

Ours free range and lay mostly in the coop. I've given up on the boxes, they lay mostly in a big communal ground nest made of leaves and feathers and tucked into a corner. Not uncommon to see 3 or 4 sitting in there at once. If they can get into the rest of the barn when we leave it open to air out, they find creative places. We had one that would lay consistently in the leaf pile in the raker. She ended up going broody in there. Too bad it wasn't spring, would have been perfect.

On a warm sunny day, they will occasionally drop one on the S side of the barn where it's very warm and sunny, right out in the open. They were also laying in the neighbors planter on her deck, but that has stopped since it got colder. That was her rent for putting up with our feathered jackals.

 

[Texasmja]

I let them out early every morning, they go back into the coop and lay their eggs and then at dusk they all go back inside to sleep and I lock the door until morning.