Layer behaviour

[crooked stripe]

I have 3 problems to solve and am looking for you folks to suggest some solutions.
I have 5 buff orps and 2 black australorps. They are 27 weeks old. 1 buff orp stays in the nest box almost all day. I keep shoving her our and she go's right back in. What is a good fix?
1 hen lays an egg in the run every other day. I can't seem to find out which one and when I do how do I get her laying in the nest box?
And last, I have been getting 5 eggs a day till the last 2 weeks. Now I get 2-3 a day. Hasn't been hot lately and they are eating and drinking well. No molting that I can tell and their eyes are bright and shinny.
Any thoughts on these problems? If so all suggestions would be appreciated. John

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
Good luck!

 

[crooked stripe]

I keep a good eye on their well being and haven't noticed lice. I never thought about worms and wouldn't know what to look for. I will catch the laying in the run hen, just a matter of time. I was just looking for a fix. Thank you John

 

[Mrs MIA]

You're welcome. I routinely treat the girls for worms just to be on the safe side... I don't have time to be running around looking at their poop - well, I guess I would if I wasn't on the computer...

- but I wouldn't be able to tell whose it was anyway. Just as easy to treat them all at once in their water.

Good luck!

 

[henmommy]

Hi John, Can you please tell me when your Buff's started laying? thanks!

 

[granmahen]

My hens were laying on the floor so I did three things suggested here. 1. make it really comfy with pine shavings and straw. 2. give them some privacy with a curtain (the other hens peek around the curtain when someone is laying as if to see how she's doing) and
3. put a fake egg in to remind them where they are supposed to deposit their eggs. Hope it helps. I actually have to stick the fake egg in now and then as a refresher course

 

[crooked stripe]

My buffs started laying at 20 weeks and my 2 black australorps started about 22 weeks. I had placed golf balls in the nest boxes before they started laying. Now there is almost always a fresh egg in the nest boxes. I must have raised an exhibitionist in the bunch. John



eddited to say sometime there is 2 hens laying in the same nest box and the rest of the boxes are empty.