Laid First Egg on Floor-- Is this normal?

[NewOldMotherHen]

My ten chickens are 5 months old this week. This evening when I went out to get them ready for bed, I found my first egg

on the concrete floor of the chicken house. It is small, perfect shaped, and has a hard shell. Do they usually start out laying eggs in places other than their nesting boxes (there are three nesting boxes straw-lined and each containing a fake wooden egg.)

 

[aoxa]

That's where my first egg was yesterday! I think they will find it in time.. Your supposed to put fake eggs in there.

 

[jjthink]

Sure, for a first egg almost anything is possible!
JJ

 

[spacecowgirl]

Mine did the first day. It was on the floor of the coop. I nestled a fishing bobber in the nest box ( all I had, haha ) and she's laid all her eggs in there, ever since, right next to the bobber. Except the soft shelled ones; she lays those outside the box.

 

[NewOldMotherHen]

Thanks for the good replies. I have been afraid they would not like the nesting boxes I struggled to build them. I did not want nesting boxes taking up space inside the chicken house so I cut holes in the walls and attached the boxes to the outside. Quite a job for an old(er) woman. I am looking forward to tomorrow and whether or not I get another egg. Three have been squatting.

 

[stcroixusvi]

We got our first egg today too!

What fun! But ours was outside as well, tucked under a log in the run. It was cold, so it's not as though anyone was trying to sit on it. We have had fake eggs in the nesting boxes since day 1, and not one chicken, other than our rooster, has shown any interest. I hope the other posters are right, and the girls figure it out.

 

[Twiggers96]

Perhaps try pine shavings - mine really like this in their nesting box. Easier for them to move into nest form.

 

[ladyride]

I have 4 that just started to laying a couple days ago DH found 1 in the run. We only had 2 of the 4 boxes open for use today while I getting some treats ready for them both boxes were in use, one of the buffs paced acted cranky growling etc , then all the sudden she started the song dropped her egg in the run. Told DH tonite we gotta open up the rest of the boxes so there is no waiting .

If you don't have fake eggs golf balls work well.

 

[theoldchick]

Yep.

 

[NewOldMotherHen]

You'all were right. Egg #2 arrived this morning and she laid it in the nesting box. Yeah!