Is this normal for a Free range chicken?

[Lewbylew99]

Hello everyone! Ive had my chcikens for 2 months now and only 1 chicken is laying out of 3 and she is laying outside of where she has too lay, We do let her have her feed and water 24/7 and let her run around the garden now is this normal that she lays outside of the coop?

Please help and comment

Lewbylew99

 

[Judy]

Some seem to need more training than others.

You could try a golf ball or other egg-looking object in the nest, or making the nest a little darker with a bit of cloth stapled across the top front. You could also let them out later for a week or so. If you are there during the day, you could try checking around 10 am to see if they have laid, then let them out. You might not want to do this if it's hot where you are and the coop gets warm, though. Sometimes they like a different nesting material. I use pine shavings on the floor but they lay in the nests better if I use hay in there.

I've had this flock for a few years. Now and then I find an egg outside the nest or even outside the coop, but mostly they lay in the nests. I think that's probably what most people experience.

 

[devora]

X2, flockwatcher is right on.

I'm not nearly as nice! Lock 'em in!! One week, no free range. No one gets out until everyone has proven they lay in the nestbox only.

Hey, ya gotta be cruel to make an omelette.