Laying egg outside?

[Good Ol Gibby]

We have 10 Isa Brown hens that are almost a year old and we've been getting 9-10 eggs per day. We have 12 nesting boxes in the coop. A couple of times over the past two weeks, my DH has found that a hen has laid her egg outside the coop in the chicken run. Yesterday, he found two eggs out there. The weather has been 50's and rainy and now back into the 20's (darn Indiana springs!). Anyone have any ideas why we've suddenly started to find an egg or two outside? Thanks!!

 

[Wynette]

If you figure it out, let the rest of us know!

Do you have golf balls or fake (wood) eggs in the nest boxes? That's always a good clue for them.

I've had a few that seem to do that when they've taken a bit of time off due to molt or just slowed down in winter, and when they start back up again, they'll do it. Usually takes a week or two, and then they find the nest boxes again.

 

[thechickenchick]

I had the same thing happen 3 times in about 2 weeks time. Now it hasn't happened in a long time.

Maybe they like to keep us guessing!

Like hide and seek!

 

[miss_jayne]

put some 'lures' in the boxes. golf balls work wonders.

chickens will lay eggs where they see other eggs. (they want the biggest clutch by nature)

when the begin to lay, sometimes they just don't know what to do the first couple of go rounds.

blessings for a healthy flock and eggs in the right place!

 

[Good Ol Gibby]

Thanks for your thoughts! We don't have any golf balls or anything in the nests because they've been laying since early fall in the next boxes without any problems. Crazy chickens...it's like they've forgotten how to do it! Hopefully they'll work out their issues and get back on track. Thanks!