Laying an egg while roosting

[Robin1]

We finally got our first egg this week

...So excited! However, our hen is laying her eggs while perched on the roost in the hen house. The very first egg landed on the floor, lined with shavings and luckily didn't crack. The last 2 eggs she layed from the same place and they did end up cracking when they fell to the floor. We have nesting boxes in the coop, but she is not using them. Any suggestions? We waited do long for the eggs, now that one of our hens is laying .... all we are getting is cracked eggs

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Have you tried putting a fake egg in the nesting boxes?

 

[bsruther]

When our hens started laying, we would always find their first few eggs on the poop board, under the roost. They were usually thin shelled and not usable anyway. After that, they would lay in the nesting box. I would check the poop board daily to see if another hen was going to start laying. All five of them did it. It seems that once they realize what's going on, they head to the box.

 

[Robin1]

I have 2 fake eggs in the nesting boxes. I had all the nesting boxes lined w/ excelcer laying pad(spelling) and thought they weren't used to it. So I have one box now filled w/ shavings and one box lined w/ straw and the other 2 w/ excelcer.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Sounds like you're certainly giving them lots of options!

 

[Dora'smom]

Have they been in the nest boxes at all, as far as you know? Often, once they realize that they are there, and how comfy they are, and see fake eggs, or golf balls there, it seems to click. I've had a fair few lid from the roost or on the coop floor or in the run, as well, but it usually is just a matter of time.