Layer boxes

[Chaerie]

Started my flock with 4 1year jersey giant hens, just saw the pic and thought they'd be perfect. Well, didn't think about if they would fit in the coop I inherited when we bought the place and have been fixing up (guess hubby is gonna have to build me one now). I have them in a covered enclosure but no coop, and I put the nesting box in there, but I think they're too big for those also, so then I got some milk crates and turned them on their side. Girls started laying in a nest they built I the middle of the enclosure in a bush, so I thought aha! and I put a milk crate right there in the middle of the nest. Well, since then I've had one egg laid right next to the crate and 2 laid in the middle of the enclosure. I also got some Easter eggs and painted them brownish and put them in the nest so they get the idea but so far no eggs in any of the 8 boxes available to them. Any ideas? Yesterday I did leave two of their eggs in one of the boxes for a couple hours but I didn't want to leave them all day. Thanks!

 

[azygous]

When you go to build a nest box for the breed of hens you have, measure them standing up. Contrary to what many folks believe, hens need a nest box tall enough in which to stand, even though they spend most of their interval in the nest in a reclining position.

Just as they feel the need to push the egg out, the hen will need to stand up in order to complete the egg laying process. If the nest box lacks sufficient head room, the hen finds it extremely confining and it will result in a reluctance to use that nest box.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC @Chaerie !

You might try setting the milk crates right side up(opening at top),
and pack it almost full with straw.
They might take to those, until you get some proper sized nests.

There are tons of things to use as nests,
as long as they are the right size for the birds you have,
and are stable if they stand on an edge.
Check out these threads:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/topic-of-the-week-nest-boxes.1183585/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/please-post-pictures-of-your-creative-nesting-boxes.439890/

 

[Chaerie]

Ok will try That! Thank you!

 

[Chaerie]

So they made their own nest in another part of the yard... found 6 eggs yesterday. Can they lay more than one egg a day? Because I searched pretty hard the day before, and suddenly there are six.

I guess the problem is they were free range and used to doing their own thing, and here I am wanting them to use the stuff I give them.

I watched one hen push the fake egg out of the nest and tore up the straw while making the ca-CAW I identified as laying egg sound. So I think she was pretty pissed at me. But she's still running for meal worms so I guess we're ok. Haha! So awesome

 

[aart]

Once you get good sized nests, you may have to lock them in the coop for a time to habituate to using the coop nests.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 3-4 days (or longer) can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.