laying eggs in all the wrong places!

[Rhoise]

I take one of the eggs that was layed on the floor of the coop and mark it with a sharpie, and then put it in the nest boxes. Usually does the trick

I was going to try this as a last resort(i do think they kinda know the diffrence between fake and real eggs) but.....the new to start layers( and ones not laying yet dink around so much in the nests they scratch break and peck dents so i am trying to collect as much as possible so they don't figure out how good their own eggs taste!! the girls that have been at it for two weeks now are no muss no fuss now in and out, i hope to keep it that way!!.

 

[7 Biddies]

I take one of the eggs that was layed on the floor of the coop and mark it with a sharpie, and then put it in the nest boxes. Usually does the trick

I pick up the rogue chicken, show her the errant egg, and place both in the nest box along with praise for being a "good girl". I'll let you know if it works.

 

[Rhoise]

I pick up the rogue chicken, show her the errant egg, and place both in the nest box along with praise for being a "good girl". I'll let you know if it works.

my husbands been trying this on me for 18 years baaahahahahh..good luck

 

[kaybats]

Thanks for posting this thread as I am having the same issue. My March babies started laying while I had 3 broody hens. Some used the boxes, but I think others were intimidated by the broody girls and I would find eggs in the downstairs of the coop (boxes are upstairs), near where I keep the hay and even in one of the boxes of the other coop.

Now that all nest boxes are "open", I thought things might get normal. Instead, it has gotten worse. I started looking around more when I realized I wasn't getting as many eggs as I should be. I'm finding them in one of the boats, under the old pick-up truck, under bushes, in the duck pen, etc. I literally go on an egg hunt every day!

Thanks also for all the suggestions!

 

[carolwfuller]

Well, I marked the egg, put it in the nesting box and this am I had 5 lovely eggs from 5 chickens. Thanks for the hint.

 

[Rhoise]

Day #2 post nest box "remodel", asked my son to check on the girls around 10am and he reported three pullets in three seperate nest boxes side by side Yay!!! I guess all three are eggceptable!!
I wish he had taken a picture for me, oh well maybe this weekend I'll be able to get photo's

 

[7 Biddies]

Well, I marked the egg, put it in the nesting box and this am I had 5 lovely eggs from 5 chickens. Thanks for the hint.

I have ceramic eggs in the boxes, but if I come home to find that Dorothy has "missed the target" again, I'll try this.

 

[aggiemae]

Yesterday i was cleaning the utility room and I dragged the brooder out into the yard to clean it and all of the hens were happily hopping in and out of it most of the day and dis morning when I finally got around to scrubbing it I found an egg! This afternoon one of the Buf Orps was singing in there so I grabbed her and put her into the next box. This time I kept her in there for two hours and no egg! I had too let her out, because my back fence neighbor (who is a tool) was working out in his yard and apparewntly his "peace" was being disturbed resulting in his making more noise that any chicken ever could. She immediately laid one in her "spot" which is, thankfully, easy to get too.

Oddly the RIR's laid in the next box from the start but the two Buf Orps are both reluctant.

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Same issues here, pullets laying everywhere but nest boxes, as soon as I let them out they go running and pile on top of each other to lay in the favorite shhh nest behind the shed, I wouldnt care but we have squirrels and cats, and the days no one is home they're gonna be locked up. So.......yesterday my husband and I "re-modeled" the nest boxes. Added a few bottom boards in front to add privacy and keep nonlaying girls out( they were playing kick ball with the fakes on a daily basis), added more cushin(wood shavings) and upped the anti on fake eggs to two and three per nest instead of one. Yesterday we locked them up and they paced back and forth frantically till i caved and let them out, two ran straight to the nest behind the shed didn't even blink at new nest boxes and layed their eggs, My "Betty White" wouldn't lay........This morning HOWEVER, at 6am when i checked on them, my white hen had layed from the roost in the night(luckily i padded more litter under the roosts yesterday too) but the two other pullets that usually v-line for the shed caved today at 10 am and used the nice new nest boxes!!!! I think the combo of more privacy, desperation, and three fake eggs did the trick, they both layed in seperate nest boxes(the two with three fakes instead of one ha!) So.....
1. LOCK EM UP
2. MAKE SURE NEST BOXES ARE QUIET AND PRIVATE
3. MULTIPLE FAKE EGGS
4.EXTRA PADDING
This may help?? I'm not sure if it was the cause of mine finaly laying in nests for omnce but it's worth a try. My next idea was curtains hahahha I read this somewhere....Also if your coop is large enough you could try a box or crate, or tote, someone even mentioned a covered litter box. Mine love Dog crates(well that was their brooder so it makes sence)

Thanks for the good info here. Does anyone know if there is a certain time the morning or midday that is alright to let the girls out of the coop and assume that they are finished their laying? I have heard about 10 AM but I'd really like to hear from folks what their experiences have been.

 

[Rhoise]

Thanks for the good info here. Does anyone know if there is a certain time the morning or midday that is alright to let the girls out of the coop and assume that they are finished their laying? I have heard about 10 AM but I'd really like to hear from folks what their experiences have been.

I have three that lay before 11am(one before the sun comes up!) one more that lays around noon, first person home for the day during the week lets them out around 2pm, till they go to roost, weekends around noon till roost. All girls laying in the boxes now, none in the "shed" nest since we started keeping them in till noonish or later. Have to add my lights come on at 6am and I usually open their coop door around 5:45, that's when Frankie climbs in and lays me an egg in the box before work she's so sweet!