Laying area suddenly moved

[Cockledoo]

My little hen has ALWAYS laid her eggs in her nesting box, suddenly she is laying them in the pull out drawer in the coop. I use nesting pads in the nest box and she does not sleep in the boxes or poop in it. They look fresh as the day I put them in. Is this normal for a hen to switch her nesting area?

 

[sourland]

Sometimes they become tired of us taking their eggs and locate another site.

 

[Cockledoo]

even if they never sit on them after they lay them?

 

[aart]

Something is attractive about the 'pull out drawer'.
What is this drawer anyway?
Pics might help.
Or there could be something unpleasant in the nest, check for bugs?
Do you only have one chicken and one nest?

 

[Cockledoo]

The pull out drawer sits under the two perch's in the coop. Its filled with pine shavings for bird droppings. And yes i did see bugs under the nesting pads but Ive read on there that their harmless beetles that the chickens like to eat. I have two nesting boxes and two hens but both hens use to use the same one box.

 

[aart]

The pull out drawer sits under the two perch's in the coop.

Oh, so basically the coop floor....which is almost at the same level as the nests.
Maybe she just prefers the shavings to the pad.<shrugs>